About Me

Keeping Your Restaurant On Its Toes

When you run a business like a restaurant, it can be easy to get complacent about the details. Your employees might be used to you checking in on them during certain times of the week, or you might get comfortable with your same old menu. Unfortunately, if your place stays exactly the same, customers can lose interest—which can be bad for business. I want you to know what you need to do to make your restaurant beautiful, functional, and relevant, which is why I made this site. Here, you will learn key strategies for perfecting your business, so that you don't end up with a mess on your hands.

Latest Posts

Archive

Keeping Your Restaurant On Its Toes

What To Do When You Realize A Customer Has Had Enough To Drink

by Julio Myers

As a server, you are responsible for the alcohol that you serve to your customer's. If you notice that a customer has had too much to drink, it is your responsibility to address the situation. Here is what you should do as soon as you realize that a customer has had enough to drink.

Don't Bring Them Any More Alcoholic Drinks

The first thing you need to do when you suspect that a customer is drunk is stop serving them alcohol. As a server, in most states, you are expected to serve your customer's responsibility. That generally translates to not serving customers who are drunk.

If for any reason you are not comfortable telling a particular customer that you can no longer serve them any more alcohol, locate a senior staff member or your manager to assist you.

Bring Them A Non-Alcoholic Drink

When you cut off a drunken customer, offer them a non-alcoholic drink. Even better, bring a glass of water with you when you cut them off. Although water is the best way for your customer to get hydrated and sober up, you can also serve them:

  • Coffee
  • Hot Tea
  • Soda
  • Iced Tea
  • Juice

The key is to help hydrate your customer and help them become sober. You should also inquire and see if they would like something to eat. If your establishment allows you, bring them some complementary bread or chips.

Arrange For Transportation

If a customer leaves your establishment and causes an accident because they are drunk, the repercussions could come back on you and the restaurant you work for. You could be held responsible for serving them drinks and allowing them to get drunk, and the restaurant you work for could lose their liquor licenses and most likely their livelihood. That is why you should do everything you can to arrange for alternative transportation if you have a drunk customer who drove to your restaurant. Make sure you ask the following three items:

  • Ask the customer if you can hold onto their keys for safekeeping. If the customer gives you their keys, have your manager put them somewhere protected, like in your restaurant safe.
  • Ask if you can call a friend for them to come and pick them up.
  • Ask if you can call a cab for them. Or you can let the customer know that you are calling them a cab. If the customer protests that they don't have the money to pay for a cab, offer to have the restaurant foot the bill for their ride.

In order to protect yourself, make sure you go through all three asks above and do everything you to prevent a drunk customer from getting behind the wheel.

If a customer becomes drunk at your restaurant, it is your job and responsibility to stop serving them. You should also provide them with water or another drink so that they can hydrate. Finally, make sure that you take ever step possible to prevent them from driving while intoxicated. 

To learn more, visit a restaurant like The Turtle Club

Share