Alcohol sales play a large financial role for many restaurants around the world, but there are several important steps they must take before serving alcohol becomes a reality. And one of the most important is corporate alcohol training classes for employees. Here are just a few of the many reasons your food establishment should be investing in these classes.
Training and Tracking
Keeping tabs on servers’ alcohol training is one of the most important tasks a restaurant owner or manager has to perform. If a training certificate is out of date or an employee hasn’t been properly trained for alcohol serving yet, it can pose serious consequences not just for that server, but for the business as a whole. Investing in regular ABC permit training can ensure this never happens at your establishment.
Identifying Minors
Most states require workers who serve alcoholic beverages to be a minimum of 18 years old, but every state requires people who purchase alcoholic beverages to be over 21. One of the most important reasons to invest in ABC licenses is a secure knowledge of how to check for ID and when to check for it. Servers may be aware of general guidelines, but not knowing specifics could make or break a career, the restaurant’s reputation, and most importantly, the law. It’s absolutely essential for servers to know the law when it comes to identifying minors in an establishment that serves alcohol.
Identifying Intoxication
Another important aspect of corporate alcohol training is knowing when a person is too intoxicated, even if the signs aren’t obvious at first. Many national restaurant chains have incorporated this into their standard training. These establishments require all front-of-house employees to receive alcohol training because greeters and hostesses often serve as the first line of defense against dangerously drunken diners. If someone enters the restaurant and orders one drink too many, all managers are trained to handle the situation.
Unfortunately, the maxim “The customer is always right” doesn’t always apply, especially when the customer in question is clearly intoxicated.
These are just a few of the reasons that it’s so important to practice vigilance about alcohol training. Make sure your business takes just as much care to receive the proper training. Failure to do so could result in harm to your business, your employees, and expensive fines.