Bartender 101: Be a Responsible Bartender

In my experience as a bartender there were occasions that I drove patrons home, called spouses to pick someone up, or took away keys and called a cab. Now do not think that I allowed customers to get plastered. Sometimes they came to me that way. However it happened, it was my duty as a responsible bartender to ensure they got home safely without hurting themselves or others.

Being a responsible bartender means several things. You are accountable. You are aware. You are in control.

Bartender Accountability

Did you know that bartenders are liable in many places if any thing happens to an intoxicated patron after they leave your bar? This means that if you serve someone, and any person gets arrested, hurt, or killed afterward, then you and/or your bar can be sued. I have seen it happen and it's not pretty.

A bartender friend of mine served a patron too much once. The customer left the bar, was involved in an accident, and was arrested for a DUI (driving under the influence). No one was seriously injured but the property damage and arrest was enough to warrant a lawsuit. The bar and the bartender were sued.

The bar lost its liquor license and was shut down. The bartender lost their server certification and was ordered to pay restitution to the tune of $30,000. The bar owner settled and paid $100,000.

Unfortunately, this bartender lost their home because they could not pay the restitution and keep up with their mortgage. They ended up working at job for minimum wage and living at their parent's home. To this day they are still struggling.

Because the bar was closed, other bartenders lost their jobs. The bar owner ended up selling the bar and partnering in another venture.

This case was small in comparison to what it could have been. Injuries could have been life threatening or fatal. Could you live with yourself if you knew someone had died because of your poor judgment? I know I could not.

I have heard of cases that settled in the million-dollar range. The intoxicated person served time in prison. People's lives turned upside down because of over serving.

Bartender be Aware