Keep Your Customers Safe This St. Patrick's Day

Keep Your Customers Safe This St. Patrick's Day

Don’t Rely on the Luck of the Irish—Responsible Alcohol Service is the Key for a Happy St. Patrick’s Day

With St. Patrick’s Day fast approaching, you can expect to see a surge in traffic from thirsty guests at your establishment. To stay prepared, it is imperative that all employees (front-of-house and back-of-house) are equipped with responsible alcohol service training.

AA031210_4.jpg Alcohol service can be a lucrative aspect of any business. However, the inherent risks associated with serving alcohol require that your staff take the proper precautionary measures. Your responsibility to serve alcohol safely should not be taken lightly. Failure to comply with state, county, and municipal laws can result in fines, the loss of your liquor license, and even criminal charges.

Here are some quick tips from ServSafe Alcohol 3rd Edition to help prepare your staff for the holiday rush and keep everyone safe this St. Patrick’s Day:

Accept proper forms of identification

  • In most states, the following forms of identification ARE acceptable:
    • Driver's license
    • State ID card
    • Passport
    • Military ID
  • In most states, the following forms of identification are NOT acceptable:
    • Birth certificate
    • School ID
    • Voter registration card

Keep an eye on your customers

  • To help prevent intoxication, you should:
    • Actively count the number of drinks you serve. The following beverages serve as one (1) standard drink:
      • 5 ounces of wine
      • 12 ounces of beer
      • 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor
      • 1 ounce of 100-proof liquor
    • Observe guests for signs of intoxication. Changes in behavior can reveal a customer who may be over-served. Be on the lookout for guests who might be overly friendly, loud, slurring their speech, or spilling their drinks.

Offer a snack

  • DO offer foods that are high in protein and/or fat (e.g. chicken wings, pizza, French fries, etc.). These types of foods help keep alcohol in the stomach
  • DO offer water to help combat dehydration, a common side effect of drinking alcohol
  • DON'T offer foods that are high in salt (e.g. peanuts, pretzels, chips, etc.). These can make guests thirstier, causing them to drink more alcohol.

Keep your business and customers safe by getting trained with ServSafe Alcohol 3rd Edition!


 

Follow @ServSafe