Underage drinking is the leading cause of death and injuries in vehicle crashes, and businesses are being asked to help change that in Hall County.

The Drug Free Coalition of Hall County is offering a free Responsible Alcohol Sales and Service training program to licensed alcohol vendors.

Alcohol is the most commonly used drug among American teens. Its use has been shown to interfere with developing social skills and academic achievement. It is estimated that in 2007, 56 traffic fatalities involved a minor under the influence of alcohol.

According to Georgia Student Health survey, 21 percent of 10th-graders have tried alcohol in the past 30 days. The survey also found that 35 percent of 10th-graders in Hall County say it is easy to get alcohol.

"There could be someone purchasing for them that is of age or maybe they're just walking into a store that basically doesn't card them," said Joe Britte, Public Information Officer for the Gainesville Police Department.

"There's a way and our teens are probably smart enough to figure out the different loopholes to get alcohol."

Selling alcohol to a minor could mean big trouble for a store or restaurant. Should an intoxicated minor be involved in a car accident, the business could face expensive legal consequences.

A food store chain was involved in a lawsuit that reached a settlement of $1.6 million because it sold alcohol to a minor who became intoxicated and was involved in a car accident that killed an 18-year-old. Another similar suit was settled for $39 million.

Even without a lawsuit, businesses could lose their license to sell alcohol and will have to face a judge in court.

"It's important that either the owner or the manager of an establishment get this training," J.P. Banks, Project Coordinator for Drug Free Coalition of Hall County said.

"It will help them in reducing sale of alcohol to minors, but beyond that, it also gets them to reduce their liability."

Once a vendor has completed the RASS Workshop, they will receive a certificate of completion.

"Once they have documentation that they have participated in a training of that sort, the penalty, should they slip up, would not be as severe because they made the effort to get the training," Banks said.

The RASS Workshops can provide owners and managers of alcohol-licensed businesses with valuable information that will help save lives and avoid legal consequences.

The three-hour workshop will teach retailers about state, county and city codes, how to recognize a false identification and the signs of intoxication.

It will provide everything employers need to educate their staff.

"Our goal, with coalition, is to reduce alcohol sales to minors and, as a result, reduce all of the accidents and incidents that occur because adolescents, people under the age of 21, are drinking and getting behind the wheel," Banks said.