Bartending is one of the most relevant and most popular services available in the world. This is the reason why it is important to understand certain rules of bartending. The one we will be talking about today is one that is very important. It gives us the details we need in order to ensure the results we want.
The 50 rule in bartending is a very simple one. It refers to 50% of a drink that is still in a customer’s glass. Once the glass is halfway empty from consumption, you can serve another drink. This is very important to consider and it will be essential in a bartender’s career.
We can think of many things to consider when it comes to this particular unwritten rule. There is nothing more valuable in the world of bartending than abiding by those rules. There are many others, but the 50 rule is one that has always had a very important role.
Heavy drinking is always a concern for bartenders
One of the first things that you can consider in this type of situation is that many people are constantly looking for ways to ensure the best outcome. Always remember this and you will be able to see the best results.
Heavy drinking is a problem for everyone involved. If a bar is serving too many drinks to someone, there is a higher chance that this person will get drunk much faster. This is always an issue that will be very difficult to handle. Many people are interested in drinking more than they should.
The main reason why the 50 rule is so important is that it slows the intake of alcohol. If someone has a full drink and orders one more, they will be tempted to drink faster. Most drinks are not going to taste the same after a few minutes. This is specially the case with drinks that have ice in them and drinks that have ingredients that will mix and blend.
One of the biggest concerns that bartenders have in this sense is the accidents that people can have. They can also be more likely to cause problems in a bar or event. There are many things that are going to be very important to consider.
Now that we have mentioned these factors, you have a better idea of the reason why the 50 rule exists. Reinforcing it is important, but it will definitely bring some issues with it and a good bartender is going to prepare for such situations.
How to handle demanding bar goers?
There are always going to be some people who will be very demanding when it comes to drinks. Some people are very likely to become problematic in that sense in many ways. There are individuals who will go to bars with the sole purpose of getting drunk. This means that if a bartender tells them to slow down, they may start acting rude and demanding.
The main thing to remember about this kind of situation is that it can lead to a confrontation. This is the reason why a good bartender is always going to do this carefully. It is best to ensure that this happens in a way that is easy to handle.
Emotional control is always essential when the bartender is going to be dealing with someone who is getting progressively drunk. The bartender should never take this personally and this is going to be essential for the success of the process.
There are too many things that are relevant about this. You have to be able to look at the issues that are happening at any given time to decide the best course of action. The best thing to keep in mind is that people at bars are always going to be drinking. Especially event bartenders will be dealing with this type of issue.
What this means is that there is always going to be some kind of issue. Especially with someone who wants to drink too much. The bartender needs to be able to handle this on a daily basis. In some cases, several times a day will not be something unexpected.
This is a natural situation to have to consider when you are working in any type of bartending. The best thing that anyone can do in this type of situation is to learn the way to handle each person.
There are all types of drinking people
The first thing to define is that there are all types of drunk people in this world. Some of them are going to be more problematic than others, but there are always going to be drunk people.
While it is very important to know about these specific types of drinkers. You should always consider that there are many people who will be unpredictable when they drink. With that said, you are going to be likely to find very specific types of drinkers.
There are 3 types of drinking people:
- The quiet and introverted drinker
- The friendly and loud drinker
- The rude and violent drinker
The quiet and introverted drinker
Event bartenders in Los Angeles know that this is one of the least problematic drinkers that they can deal with. If you are always in the perfect situation, you will find that this type of drinker is perfect.
This person is not loud, this person is not hard to deal with and this person is never going to be demanding anything. They are likely to be ok with the 50 rule without any hesitation. There are many people who drink who are going to behave this way.
If you find that this type of drinker is asking for too many drinks at once. The best thing to to let them know why there is a 50 rule. They will probably thank you and feel grateful that you are concerned.
Always remember that this is a common type of drinker, but not the most common. The following type is going to be the most common drinker at any party, or event.
The friendly and loud drinker
Everyone has always known a friendly and loud drinker at some point. This is something that people expect at all times. There are many things to consider in this type of situation. You have to be able to handle this to the best of your ability. The friendly and loud drinker is not someone threatening, but it can be someone annoying. When you find yourself in front of someone who wants too much attention.
The good news with this particular type of drinker is that they are rarely if ever going to be rude. They are the type of drunk that looks at bartenders for private events or for nightclubs as friends.
This is good news for you because you know that you are not going to have to deal with someone who is problematic in any way. They could become very annoying, but this is easier to handle than someone who is rude.
The rude and violent drinker
Fortunately, this is the least common type of person you find in bartending. There is nothing more important in this case than staying cool. The rude and sometimes violent drinker feels entitled. This is a person that is conflictive without drinking and alcohol brings out the worst in them.
Being able to handle this kind of situation is very important. This is the type of case when you can separate the bartenders that last in the business from the ones that don’t. This is going to test the emotional intelligence of any bartender.
Lensing how to diffuse any difficult situation is always going to be essential. At the end of the day, the bartender needs to think about long term benefits. Those that always make sure that this is the case will achieve the best results without a doubt.
There are many other things to consider regarding inebriated people
The word of bartending is unpredictable in the sense that you never know what kind of person you will find. There are people who may seem friendly and nice when sober, but they turn into someone else when drinking.
This is the reason why a good bartender is always going to be aware of this possibility. It’s not about being mortified by this ever happening, it is about being aware of it and not letting this become an issue.
The best way to handle the bartending life is to always be emotionally ready for anything. The emotional maturity of a bartender is always going to be the key element that is going to change things.
Questions and answers
Do bartenders have an obligation to keep people from getting too drunk?
There is no obligation to keep people from getting drunk. With that said, the bartender should know when a person has had too many drinks. When this happens, they have the right and the obligation of denying any more drinks to that person.
This is a very touchy subject because it can be hard for a bartender to make that decision, but if a person is obviously drunk, this is easy to stop. This is someone who is going to be slurring their speech. There will also be erratic walking, and their demeanor will be quite different.
Can someone blame bartenders for drunk driving accidents after a person leaves a bar?
There are many intricacies and legal issues related to this. It is always best if a bartender practices good judgement. This is always the kind of thing that a bartender will need to keep in mind.
There are many people who get drunk beyond anything they can handle and a bartender should avoid serving drinks. It is always important to stay on your toes in this sort of situation.
Is the 50 rule valid everywhere?
It doesn’t matter if you are serving drinks at a bar or at a hotel, the rule applies everywhere. That is unless the person who is in charge of a particular event tells you otherwise. With that said, this is a rule that should always be followed as it is good bartending practice.
The best bartenders always find a way to do this and to achieve the best results. There are many ways to handle the process of enforcing this rule. It’s all about knowing how to approach this depending on the person.
Final thoughts
The world of bartending is always going to be one that depends heavily on the local situation. If a city is booming and thriving, the bartender business is also moving forward. This is why a bartender always needs to follow the unwritten rules that help make their careers easier.
