One insurance website, greenwood insurance.net discusses club and bar liabilities related to alcohol stating, “…alcohol-related risks that can prove costly in the form of liability lawsuits, customer injuries, and other potential problems.” The site gives several steps a nightclub should practice at all times:
- Train employees how to identify and refuse service of alcohol to patrons who are intoxicated.
- Require bartenders to properly measure portions when mixing drinks.
- Refuse service of alcohol to patrons who have a reputation for violence and/or abusiveness under the influence.
- Create and enforce policies for verifying age.
Starting a bottle service and incorporating the use of bottle locks in a club is a great way to make all of these best practices happen.
Bottle services are simply an added experience a club owner can offer to patrons to make the night out a unique experience. Typically an offering will be a group package that is purchased in advance and can have different incentives. Low end packages may offer a booth near the DJ and one bottle of a top shelf wine or spirit. Premium packages may offer a private lounge and bar with a bartender and two or more top shelf beverages. All packages should offer a bottle service waiter or waitress who is assigned to the party. The bottles of spirits or wine are served to the table or group with bottle locks on them and only the bottle server has the detachment key to open the locks.
How does a bottle service address each of the suggestions laid out by the insurance company? Let’s begin with training employees to identify and refuse service of alcohol to intoxicated patrons. The bottle server is trained to be the eyes and ears for the nightclub. Since they are serving a select group he/she will already be trained on what to look for in a person who may be reaching their limit. Part of a bottle service agreement may have a stipulation that the server can use discretion to cut-off service if they deem a group member is becoming too inebriated. Since the bottles locks can only be removed by the server, refusal of service is easy to control.
Requiring bartenders to properly measure portions when mixing drinks should be part of a nightclub training requirement for new staff. Bartenders, as well as bottle services staff would receive the same training and be expected to adhere to club policy. Again, the benefit of having one staff member assigned to serve a single table or group, providing a V.I.P. level of service, makes it easier for the server to take their time mixing and pouring, rather than the hectic activity surrounding a bar.
Refusal of service of alcohol to patrons who have a reputation for violence and/or abusiveness under the influence can be easy when bottle services are used. Assuming the patron is known to the club and has been permitted access anyways, management can make it clear to the person who is purchasing the service that alcohol will not be served to that specific group member. Again, the beauty of a server controlling a detachment key is that THEY have the ability to refuse to remove a lock. I would even suggest the servers be in regular communication with management and security staff and serve as an early warning system if they deem a patron is becoming too loud or unruly.
Finally, age verification and enforcement is so much easier to control with a bottle service. If a group is purchasing a service and a minor will be among them, that minor can be introduced to the server in advance. A good server will establish a strong rapport with the group and get to know the members. Around a bar where patrons are crowded together, it can be easy to miss the underage customer trying to make an illegal purchase. Small group service removes that element of anonymity.
Consider all the potential pitfalls you can avoid in your nightclub by simply offering bottle services that include bottle locks. Also, don’t overlook the profits that a new service can add to the bottom line.
Get more information on Bottle Service, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
