LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Licensed Beverage Association is offering de-escalation training to bars and restaurants.
They say this training is critical in light of the recent executive order making mask wearing mandatory.
They say it will help front of house employees in bars and restaurants deal with difficult customers.
MLBA Executive Director Scott Ellis said, "There's so much political debate about 'wear a mask, not wear a mask, what are the rules'... you know what the rules are and our people are caught in the middle."
Ellis says that in his experience in law enforcement he learned that simple communication can be the best method to de-escalate a tense situation.
"And so that's why we want to give them the tool in a short period of time to give them what we can. Teach them to listen as well, because part of using the verbiage where it's just to listen and listen to what the person saying," Ellis said.
He hopes that this training will help prevent another dangerous situation like thestabbing in Eaton County, Tuesday.
The first clinic will be held Monday, and it will be free for MLBA members.
If you are not a member of MLBA, you can get in contact with the association to join.
