Drinking bartenders

Can't play bar dice if the bartenders can't drink. WI has a very casual attitude towards drinking, its good in some ways but bad in others (like our DUI laws).

 

I'm OK with bartenders drinking as long as they're not totally shmacked and can still pour beer. If the dude or gal wants to drink a bit and have a conversation on that beer I don't see the harm.

 

It'd definitely cost me my job (I'm a waiter / bartender), but I work at a restaurant. In a completely beer-oriented setting, it'd be a different story I think, as long as it's for strictly professional purposes and, of course, said person isn't too drunk to perform.

 

Excessive drinking? Obviously not okay. But I've worked as a brewer and bartender for a nano-brewery for quite some time, and I have no problem admitting that I may have 2 or 3 beers over the course of a 10 hour shift. Professionalism in the food service industry is a nebulous concept that has so much to do with context. Those vehemently opposed to their barkeep having a couple brews seem to be massively overstating the potential direness of drinking on the job.

 

as an owner, i would not want my employees to be continuously drinking beers while on the job...as a patron, i could care less, if it doesnt affect my experience at the bar, why would i object to it?

 

i always had a little out back.....definitely helped the evening along.

 

I agree not very good idea. Only time I pull myself a beer is once I have given last call.

 

As long as they are on their game I have no issue with it.

 

I have absolutely no issue up until a point. You could easily have 1 pint about every hour and a half and be fine.

 

As a bar owner (MA) Its Illegal. And even if it wasn't illegal per se I still wouldn't tolerate it during service hours. Its no different than drinking on any other job.

 

I want good service when I go to a bar or restaurant, beer-focused or not. If my bartender or waitstaff can't provide that because he/she is drinking, then I would be mad. The same would apply if the person was high, sick, or just in a bad mood.

If yoy want to drink, fine. Just don't let it affect your job of making your customers feel welcome.

 

I don't have a problem with this at all. I buy Car/Bus/Vegas Bombs, Jameson, or Scotch for the bartenders I see regularly on occasion, especially if they're having a shitty day, and there haven't been any adverse effects yet.

 

In craft beer bars with 2-3 new kegs every couple days, a bartender needs to have a 3 ounce sample to form an opinion. And when I'm at more of dive bars, people buy bartenders shots all the time. As long as they're not getting fucked up, screwing up at their job, it's all part of the environment (and if they are getting hammered and service is suffereing then it's up to management to say 'no more' or show them the door). the places i go to are either dive bars, or craft beer bars..it's not like i'm paying $18 for some martini that actually requires some dexterity to make.

 

You are the second person to say this crap. If we want to generalize and stereotype I will say why do you pass out and make a fool of yourself at every party. You are not much fun either.

 

This is one of the most ridiculous posts I have seen on BA, which is saying something.

 

Exactly. If an employee is hurt on the job and had been drinking, and it policy that it's ok to drink and work you are legally liable. As an owner is preposterous to have someone working and being under the influence of anything. If I'm having a beer I don't really give two shits either.

 

.
I agree completely. Growing up in Wisconsin the bar is the neighborhood social gathering place and part of the local culture. It is vey rare that I did not see a bartender have a drink or two while tending bar. In fact it was very common that we would buy a beer or even a shot for the bartender and he would enjoy it with us. It is part of the culture.

 

Bartenders should not be drinking while they are working. A small sample of a beer every once in a while to check for quality, and a sample of something new is fine. If the bartender is using their working time as a reason to drink like a customer, I would leave.

 

I used to tend bar at a craft beer place, and the only time I would drink on shift was when sampling a ~2 oz pour of the ever rotating selection. The exception was during a crazy beer release or tap takeover: I would always stash an 8 oz pour of whatever crazy whale was going to kick midway through the night and sneak some sips of it. No way was I going to miss enjoying it while everyone else got to drink all of it!

 

Having worked behind a bar, I have no problem with it.

Of course, my experience was solely in London where you were forbidden to drink or if you did you had to hide it and hide it well as the landlord would be on to you quick smart but really unless it takes away from your performance then I don't see the harm.

Further, you are getting into the spirit of drinking and probably promoting drinking which will help sell more drinks which the landlord would like to see anyway.