Bartender

A bartender (also known as a barkeep, barman, barmaid, or a mixologist) is a person who formulates and serves alcoholic or soft drink beverages behind the bar, usually in a licensed establishment as well as in restaurants and nightclubs, but also occasionally at private parties. Bartenders also usually maintain the supplies and inventory for the bar. As well as serving beer and wine, a bartender can generally also mix classic cocktails such as a Cosmopolitan, Manhattan, Old Fashioned, and Mojito.

Bartender, Skyline Hotell Malmö, 1992

Bartenders are also responsible for confirming that customers meet the legal drinking age requirements before serving them alcoholic beverages. In certain countries, such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and Sweden, bartenders are legally required to refuse more alcohol to drunk customers.[1][2]

History
Ada Coleman bartending at the Savoy Hotel in London, circa 1920

Historically, bartending was a profession with a low reputation. It was perceived through the lens of ethical issues and various legal constraints related to the serving of alcohol.[3]

The pioneers of bartending as a serious profession appeared in the 19th century. "Professor" Jerry Thomas established the image of the bartender as a creative professional. Harry Johnson wrote a bartending manual and established the first bar management consulting agency.

At the turn of the 20th century, slightly less than half the bartenders in London were women, such as Ada Coleman. "Barmaids", as they were called, were usually the daughters of tradesmen or mechanics or, occasionally, young women from the "better-born" classes who had been "thrown upon their own resources" and needed an income.[4] Bartending has often been associated with the struggles of marginalized groups in the workforce, such as African-American women.[5]

The bartending profession was generally a second occupation, used as transitional work for students to gain customer experience or to save money for university fees.[6] The reason for this is because bartenders in tipping countries such as Canada and the United States, can make significant money from their tips.[7] This view of bartending as a career is changing around the world, however, and bartending has become a profession by choice rather than necessity. It includes specialized education — European Bartender School operates in 25 countries.[3]

Cocktail competitions such as World Class and Bacardi Legacy have recognized talented bartenders in the past decade and these bartenders, and others, spread the love of cocktails and hospitality throughout the world.[8] Kathy Sullivan, owner of Sidecar Bartending, expressed the difficulties with becoming a prolific bartender, comparing the bartender to the drink they make: “In drinks you want balance. And you have to be balanced physically, emotionally and mentally.”[9]

By country

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, bar work is often not regarded as a long-term profession (unless the bartender is also the landlord), but more often as a second occupation, or transitional work for students to gain customer experience or to save money for university fees. It therefore lacks traditional employment protections, so there is often a high turnover. The high turnover of staff due to low wages and poor employee benefits results in a shortage of skilled bartenders. Whereas a career bartender would know drink recipes, serving techniques, alcohol contents, correct gas mixes and licensing law and would often have cordial relations with regular customers, short-term staff may lack these skills. Some pubs prefer experienced staff, although pub chains tend to accept inexperienced staff and provide training.

Tipping bartenders in the United Kingdom is uncommon, not considered mandatory but is greatly appreciated by the bartender. The appropriate way to tip a bartender in the UK is to say 'have one for yourself', encouraging the bartender to buy themselves a drink with one's money, where a bartender may instead opt to add a modest amount to a bill to take in cash at the end of their shift.

United States

The Bureau of Labor Statistics data on occupations in the United States, including that of bartender, publishes a detailed description of the bartender's typical duties[10] and employment and earning statistics by those so employed, with 55% of a bartender's take-home pay coming in the form of tips.[11][12] The hourly wage a bartender receives can vary depending on the state. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and the laws of most states, allow employers a tip credit, which counts employees tips toward minimum wage. As of September 26, 2020, the federal minimum wage rate is $7.25/hour.[13]

As a result of the professionalization of the trade, craft bartenders have begun to establish themselves as the elite class of the bartending profession. "Craft" cocktails are curated drinks using high-quality ingredients, generally accompanied by a higher price as well.[14] Craft bartenders typically operate in more upscale venues, such as hotel bars. They make the majority of their income in tips from higher-class customers.

Bartenders in the United States may work in a large variety of bars. These include hotel bars, restaurant bars, sports bars, gay bars, piano bars, and dive bars.[15][16] Also growing in popularity is the portable bar, which can be moved to different venues and special events.

Hospitality bartenders make up 77% of the membership of the United States Bartender's Guild.[17] As a result, the union lobbies for higher tips with lower base wages. Lower-class bartenders generally do not participate in the union, since their customers may not tip or may not be able to afford to.[18]

The bartender culture in the United States encourages bartenders to be inviting and friendly to their patrons. Their customers' needs and wants become their priority, as well as their safety and enjoyment of their time at the bar. Bartenders are urged to take care of their patrons however they can.[18]

Bartenders may attend special schools or learn while on the job.[19] Bartenders in the United States usually have on-the-job training, from the owners, management, or other superior staff with experience. Prospective bartenders may gain experience by working as wait staff in a restaurant with a bar. Some vocational schools offer bartenders licenses. Some US states require a bartenders license or a health certificate issued from the state.

Most pubs and bars seek to recruit outgoing, personable individuals as bartenders. All bartenders must comply with all food and beverage regulations, in the United States. All bartenders in the United States should be knowledgeable in mixing, garnishing, and serving drinks with a positive attitude and excellent communication skills. The competition for jobs is high in this field of work.

Japan

The Japanese way of bartending is like "a time-capsule of 1930s international bartending," cocktail historian David Wondrich said. The Japanese cut-glass mixing beaker is in almost universal use nowadays. Japanese bar-tools are also all widely used. The world has been mesmerised by the art and style of Japanese bartending. [20][21]

  • Bartender and two patrons at the Toll Gate Saloon, Black Hawk, Colorado, c. 1897
  • Hotel bartenders in Toronto, Ontario, 1911
  • A bartender serving customers at a bar in Jyväskylä, Finland, 1961
  • Coffeebar tender, Sangha, Mali, 1984
  • British student working as a barmaid, 1990s
  • A bartender pouring some vodka into the metal cup of a cocktail shaker, 2000s
  • A bartender making a classic cocktail, 2010s
  • A Japanese bartender making a cocktail in Sakurai, Nara, Japan, 2021

See also
  • Bar-back, or runner, a bartender's assistant
  • Flair bartending, mixing drinks as performance
  • Hospitality
  • List of bartenders
  • List of public house topics
  • List of restaurant terminology
  • Tavern
  • Vintner

References
  1. "OLGR > Information and training for students and staff >". Olgr.nsw.gov.au. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  2. "Alcohol and the law". www.citizensinformation.ie.
  3. De Mazenod, Anne-Sophie (July 19, 2017). "Barman, un phénomène de mode ?". Le Figaro. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  4. Joint Committee on the Employment of Barmaids (1905). Women as Barmaids: Published for the Joint Committee on the Employment of Barmaids. King. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  5. Brenner, Johanna. “On Gender and Class in U.S. Labor History.” Monthly Review, vol. 50, no. 6, Nov. 1998, p. 1-15.
  6. Lucas, Rosemary (2004). Employment relations in the hospitality and tourism industries. Routledge. pp. 27–42. ISBN 978-0-415-29712-7. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  7. "Bartending Salaries from Around the World". Bars and Bartending. June 2, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  8. "Bacardi Legacy Global Cocktail Competition announces The Top 25 | australianbartender.com.auaustralianbartender.com.au". Australianbartender.com.au. October 16, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  9. "The Rise of Career Bartending: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly". November 17, 2016.
  10. U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (January 2010). "Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers". Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bulletin 2800 (2010–11 Library ed.). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 492. ISBN 978-0-16-084318-1. Archived from the original on April 16, 2010. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  11. U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 4, 2009). "35-3011 Bartenders". Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2008. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  12. "How to Become a Bartender". Break Into Bartending. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  13. "Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees". U.S. Department of Labor. January 1, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  14. Fowler, Jacqueline. “The Transformation of Occupations: A Case Study of Professionalism in Cocktail Bartending.” 2017. West Virginia University, PhD dissertation.
  15. "Cocktail lounge - definition of cocktail lounge by The Free Dictionary". Thefreedictionary.com. June 12, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  16. "Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus". Thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  17. “2019 Annual Report.” United States Bartenders' Guild, 2019, https://www.usbg.org/about1/2019-annual-report.
  18. Dumont, Matthew P. “Tavern Culture the Sustenance of Homeless Men.” American Psychological Association, 12 Aug. 1966.
  19. "Bartending License Help". Bartendinglicensehelp.com. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  20. cocktailforyou. "Japanese Bartending". cocktailforyou. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  21. 劉奎麟 姜靜綺 (November 2021). The Japanese Cocktail : Watanabe Takumi and Kaneko Michito's philosophy (in Chinese (Taiwan)). ISBN 9786269538508. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
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