Bartending 101

Who are you working with? Who’s in charge? Who’s your immediate boss? What does the “Controller do? I’ll answer all of those questions here.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you do not drink behind the bar (or before your shift!), regardless of law or house policy. Perception is everything – just don’t do it! I know this subject is controversial, and a lot of experienced bartenders will disagree with me – but I’m sticking to it.

With the recent change in many laws, and company policies, bartenders are increasingly being watched – and fired for seemingly simple things such as touching another person.

Bartenders are in a constant fight with underage customers trying to get served. Checking ID’s will be part of your job as long as you’re behind the bar. The Bar Owner will have (should have), strict house policies in place when it comes to checking ID’s.

Law Enforcement WILL enter your bar on a regular basis. Depending on the type of bar – some places more often than others. You better know what’s going on in your bar!

Your bar’s house policy will dictate how you are to handle all of these “unfortunate” occurrences. Yes, obviously, the law will take precedence, but every bar has their own way of dealing with adverse situations.

Yes, Bartending is a lot of fun. But with that fun comes a whole lot of responsibility. You must know the laws – and that’s what Alcohol Awareness Training is for.

Having a general knowledge of what a bar’s house policies are is going to go a long way in the interview process. It’s all about common sense here, and a bar’s general house policies are fairly common across the board in the Food & Beverage Industry.