How to Know if Your Staff is Ready to Serve Alcohol Responsibly?
You would agree that selling alcohol is critical to full-service restaurant owners as it’s a big factor in a restaurant’s success. With profit margin usually increased for alcohol than food, selling or upselling liquor and wine could make or even break the success of a restaurant.
If you run a restaurant or bar business, know that it also comes with great responsibility when you serve alcohol. The question is, how sure are you that your staff is prepared to serve alcohol responsibly? Because if anything happens, you will be the one to face significant consequences.
Illegal selling of alcohol may lead to people getting injured or killed in an alcohol-related accident. That’s why there are training and alcohol certification Colorado or any other state to prevent sanctions and fines on your establishment if any of your staff gets involved.
So, as a manager, how will you know if all your staff and servers are prepared to serve alcohol responsibly? That’s what you’re going to learn in this article.
What are the Factors of Responsible Alcohol Service?
As restaurant managers or owners, you must ensure that all your staff knows how to serve alcohol responsibly. You will initiate and encourage them to obtain an alcohol certification Colorado or whatever state you belong to. With that, check these factors to know if your staff is prepared to serve alcohol responsibly.
Proper Training
When your employees have proper training, it could help the establishment to avoid many related issues about alcohol and its proper handling. Bartenders need to have alcohol certification in Colorado. Also, the training for alcohol servers should not be overlooked, as proper training is a big part of creating a well-heeled professional staff.
The good thing these days is that many restaurants require employees to complete the alcohol serving program before working. That way, they will be knowledgeable and educated about the best policies and conduct safety. It will also be up to you if you pay for the cost of the training or not.
Knows how to Check IDS
Part of alcohol certification training is the proper way of checking IDs. It would be difficult to overstate the importance of this factor because staff would simply just check the IDs of the customers who order alcohol.
Unless otherwise it’s apparent that customers are over their legal drinking age, it would still be best to ask. On the brighter side, many customers would feel flattered when you ask. So, if your staff knows how to check the IDs of customers, then they are also good to go.
Obey the Policies in Place
Specific policies about alcohol serving could help the employees solve problems. For instance, the customer tries to order 2 drinks at a given time, and the staff suspects it’s minor. They know the protocol for asking for an ID.
Another is that a restaurant is worried about customers ordering alcohol too quickly. There is a policy that only one drink should be cleared and completed before they get to order another. Having policies in place is not that challenging. But know that it will have benefits to help employees handle issues if it reaches the authority.
Know how to Measure Alcohol
Many would argue that measuring liquor for mixed drinks is no longer applicable. Unless the bartender is very consistent and keen on his servings, ensuring that drinks come with even strength would be very helpful. Having a maintained level of consistency would help in avoiding alcohol-related issues in the establishment.
Never Serve to Intoxicated Customers
If you notice that a customer has too much or keeps stumbling down into the restaurant, it’s a protocol to turn down your service in serving them another shot. You will know that they are drunk, as it could be obvious by the way they behave and even speak.
Yes, they could get upset, but these customers are easy to deal with than facing the consequences later because they might end up getting into a fight and harming others or, worse, driving intoxicated. These instances could cause damage to the restaurant. It’s not worth letting customers become too intoxicated as the risks outweigh the potential bar tab.
Understand Legal Issues
Finally, there will be no greater protection against alcohol-related lawsuits for the clients than ensuring their staff is equipped with a proper serving of alcohol. Understanding legal issues about responsible alcohol serving are vital, as they follow the rules of thumb. Ensure that employees know the strict house rules to serve alcohol safely and responsibly.
Wrapping Up
Alcohol is not only easy to prepare, but it can always be a great way to increase sales in a restaurant. However, you should consider all your staff or employees who serve alcohol to the customers. They must understand responsible alcohol serving as everyone’s safety depends on it.
Ensure all your staff is prepared enough before they get to work and serve alcohol. This is to ensure the success of the restaurant and the safety of employees and customers. Get them trained today and obtain alcohol certification Colorado.