How To Become A Bartender

After a long exhausting week people tend to unwind and hang out with friends to relieve some stress. We all have our ways in which we can relax and put our problems aside for a while. For some, a sumptuous meal would be enough, adventure-seekers may prefer to go on long trips, and there are others who spend time at bars and restaurants to have a few drinks with friends.

Drinks have been in our history as early as biblical time. Wines were used for ceremonies and special occasions during early times. Each country has its own native beverage. Although there are differences in taste and composition, these drinks serve the same purpose and that is to give pleasure to consumers. This is where bartenders come into the picture.

Bartenders have various responsibilities. They serve drinks and make sure that customers receive quality beverages they came for. Becoming a bartender requires adequate training and goof memorization capabilities to be familiar with numerous recipes to satisfy customers. It’s a challenging job but very rewarding nonetheless. If you are interested to know how to become a bartender, here are useful tips that can be of great help to you.

How to become a bartender

1  Obtain adequate training and education.

Enrolling at bartending schools or taking online courses is a great way to start a career on bartending. The length of these courses may vary from 40 hours to 5 weeks depending on the type of program.

• The Professional Bartending Schools of America (PBSA) is a group composed of privately owned bartending schools committed to produce good quality bartenders through excellent education. There are about 36 schools included in this group and they are located throughout the country. Surveying options before actually enrolling at a school is a good idea to ensure that you can get a suitable education needed for your career.
• Sharpen your math skills. Combinations of drinks can be difficult to calculate. Accurate measurements must be used, if not, some beverages may be unhealthy to consume. Bartenders must also deal with multiple orders and bar tabs during their working hours, correct calculations are essential to finish the work efficiently.
• Basic knowledge regarding different beverages is needed. How much is the alcohol content of the products? Could they be mixed with other drinks? What are the possible signs of intoxication? Bartenders should know basic facts about the products they are handling in order to serve superb and at the same time safe drinks for their customers.
• Take note of must-know recipes.  Every now and then, new compositions and different blends of drinks are created. There could be thousands of combinations to make a new recipe. Basic knowledge of commonly ordered drinks can help you make your way into the business. It is good to start with basic combinations to practice your skills of mixing drinks.
• Study and practice the techniques used in bartending. Grab every chance to practice bartending techniques while you are still on your way on becoming a bartender. Actual situations are different and it may be difficult to go on the job without much needed techniques and skills.
• Discussions may include safety precautions to be taken when serving alcohol, prevention of intoxication, refusal of serving alcohol to intoxicated customers, proper identification techniques to avoid serving alcohol to minors, and others. Trainings on bartending are also on the course.
• These courses are prerequisites to acquisition of certificates necessary for bartending in certain states.

2    Know the laws and requirements for bartenders.

Comply with alcohol certifications and other qualifications according to the law implemented by your state.  Laws differ from state to state.  It is necessary to follow the qualifications before going into bartending to avoid any legal liabilities in the future.

• Alcohol seller/server certification is needed to ensure that bartenders follow and comply with state laws.
• Age requirements differ depending on state laws. The Alcohol Beverage Commission implements age limitations for alcohol serving and consumption across the United States of America.

3    Gain experience.

Look for job opportunities and gain experience. Hands-on experience is necessary to acquire good credentials and better income prospects in the future. Some bartenders may settle for a job position lower than their qualifications in order to have perspective on how the job is handled in the real world.

Employers sometimes prefer to hire within the company, they promote workers to a higher job level once vacancies are present. This is why some aspiring bartenders start as bar backs (they aide bartenders by filling ice bins, refilling liquor bottles and doing other errands) and cocktail servers. In the absence of some bartenders, they might be tapped on to cover the unfilled responsibility.

Observing and getting tips from more experienced bartenders are also beneficial. Skills can be learned and developed further by constant practice. Working alongside an experienced employee gives additional support and guidance for new bartenders.

Once a job opening occurs, prove yourself worthy to occupy the vacant position. Although knowledge is important, employers usually give more attention on the skillset and abilities of applicants.

4    Join the United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG).

This is the official representative of the International Bartenders’ Association in the country. This association aims for continued advancement of the profession through education, friendly competitions, and international cooperation.

• Memberships costs $100 per year.
• Access to intensive trainings and educational opportunities are granted.
• Free subscriptions to publications and discounts are awarded for certain events and examination fees.
• MA Program is offered both for members and non-members. This program targets to encourage continuing education for bartenders. Passing qualifying exams are needed to take this program. This course wishes to set the standards of bartending to a higher level.

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1. What Are The Requirements To Be A Bartender?
2. What Does A Bartender Do?
3. How Much Does A Bartender Make?
4. How Long Does It Take To Be A Bartender?