DUI or DWI, Stocking Booze

The new drunk driving laws in many areas are a hindrance, but need not affect business if you take care of your customers. For lunch customers, serve a simple sandwich, chili and crackers, etc.: for a cocktail trade, serve hor derves and/or canapes, etc.: serve bowls of popcorn, peanuts in the shell, etc., throughout the day and/or evening. In some countries, a heaping tablespoon of Natural peanut butter is served to the customer before he leaves. These services may or may not be charged for, but it is better the have a return customer, even if you have to pay for it out of your 'Net Profit', and make it up by charging more for the services. Sandwiches, soups, and hor derves are simple to make ahead of time, refrigerated or frozen, then heated in a microwave oven. Popcorn may be popped in the microwave oven and heated later in the same oven. Peanuts in the shell may be heated in the microwave also. Canapes only need refrigeration and can be made ahead of time. Also, try to encourage your customers to use the taxi instead of driving. If all else fails, try to take your customers home, or encourage them to sleep in their cars if necessary. Your bartenders and employees can be a tremendous help with this problem. In many establishments, this is an impossible task, but if it is possible, make every effort to keep your customers from receiving DUI or DWI tickets.

Although some bars will find it impossible to stock everything in this book, some bars will have a much larger variety of liquors and liqueurs. The basic principals of business are the same irregardless. The basic employer-employee relationship is the same. A chapter is designed to enlighten the average bar owner, and will list in the order of importance: equipment, glasses, straws, ice, soda, juice, garnish, ingredients, wine, beer, liqueur and liquor. The smaller bars will only stock the first few of each list, and the larger bars will stock many more than will be listed here.