Bartender Job Description

Preparing and serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks is the primary role of a bartender. It is also up to bartenders to maintain the cleanliness of the bar area, restock drinks, replenish bar snacks, keep inventory of supplies, and ensure that all bar equipment is working properly. Bartenders process payments and assist in creating bar menus. Other Bartender responsibilities include speaking with customers, taking drink and food orders, making recommendations, processing payments, and ensuring that customers’ needs are met, and they have an excellent time. You should be a skilled multi-tasker with a passion for customer satisfaction and knowledge of wines, beer, and cocktails. To succeed as a Bartender, you should be friendly, proactive, and efficient. Bartenders should also be passionate about the food and drinks they serve and creating a fun, enjoyable experience for every customer.

Bartender Duties and Responsibilities

In their daily routine, bartenders must complete several tasks to meet all job obligations. After examining several job listings, we have found the following to be among the most commonly listed responsibilities for this occupation:

Mix and Serve Drinks

Bartenders mainly work behind bars, taking customer orders and preparing drinks. They should be thoroughly knowledgeable about wines, beers, and liquors and understand how to mix various cocktails and other drinks.

Maintain Bar Area

Bartenders keep the bar clean and orderly. This includes everything from wiping down glasses and the bar top to maintaining an inventory of liquor and bar supplies. Bartenders typically keep bar snacks stocked and peel and slice various fruits used for garnishing drinks.

Develop Bar Menus

Bartenders can use their knowledge of commonly ordered drinks to help a business create a bar menu. Bartenders help describe each drink listed on the menu and add or remove drinks from the menu as dictated by popularity.

Change Kegs as Needed

Bartenders need to have a certain amount of physical strength to lift full kegs and carry them from storage. They also must know how to properly tap a keg.

Clean and Restock Glassware

While most places have a dishwasher for kitchenware, glassware from the bar is washed and restocked by the Bartender.

Open and Close Tabs

Bartenders open and close tabs for customers; this requires basic math and a working knowledge of point of sale software.

Keep Beer Cooler and Liquor Shelf Stocked

When the stock of liquor or a certain beer get low, it is the Bartenders responsibility to restock the beer cooler and liquor shelf.

Prepare and Restock Garnishes

The limes, lemons, oranges, and other garnishes for beers and mixed drinks are prepared by bartenders. This duty requires manual dexterity to safely handle kitchen knives.

Alert Management of Problematic Customers

During down times, bartenders provide support to the security team by monitoring the crowd for any signs of unruly behavior.

Other Important Responsibilities:

Preparing beverages for patrons and serving them at the bar or through the wait staff. Maintaining a clean and organized work environment.

Mixing beverages using an extensive range of ingredients including liquor, bitters, soda, water, sugar, and fruits

Taking beverage orders from customers or wait staff and serving drinks as requested, paying extreme attention to detail

Satisfying patron requests in a timely manner

Assessing customer preferences and making drink recommendations

Providing a positive and friendly guest experience by interacting with patrons

Collecting money for drinks served and providing change as needed

Checking identification to verify legal age requirements for all customers

Balancing cash receipts

Keeping a well-stocked bar with an adequate supply of liquor, beer, wine, mixers, ice, napkins, straws, glassware, and other accessories

Cleaning the bar, tables, chairs, and work area to maintain a sanitary environment

Organizing the bar area to streamline drink preparation and inventory

Placing orders for liquor, beer, wine, and other supplies

Slicing, pitting, and preparing fruit garnishes for drinks

Planning bar menus

Creating unique drinks

Preparing and serving appetizers, snacks, or other food items for customers at the bar

Complying with all food and beverage regulations

Limiting customer problems by restricting alcohol intake and attempting to curtail inappropriate behavior

Bartender Skills and Qualifications:

Training or Experience with Bartending, Extensive Knowledge of Drink Mixing and Garnishing, Strong Communication Skills, Positive Attitude, Personable demeanor, Multitasking, Attention to Detail, Organization, Ability to Stand for Long Periods, Strong Observational Skills, Conflict Resolution, Computer Literacy, Second Language a Plus

Bartender Skills

Bartenders should possess strong verbal communication, customer service, and interpersonal skills, as well as a warm and friendly demeanor, as they spend their days interacting with customers of various social and economic backgrounds. It is helpful for bartenders to have above-average math skills, as measuring drinks and handling money are major aspects of this profession. Employers also prefer candidates who possess the following abilities:

Discernment – bartenders must be well versed in their state’s alcohol and liability laws; able to spot customers who may have had too much to drink and unobtrusively take steps to prevent intoxicated customers from drunk driving by arranging transportation or calling a taxi; as well, they have to be on the alert for underage patrons

Communication and listening skills – bartenders’ welcome customers, take orders, serve drinks and food, and chat both to maintain a friendly atmosphere and to limit liability if there are indications that a patron might be getting intoxicated

Organization – bartenders are multi-taskers—they serve multiple customers at the bar as well as making drinks for restaurant patrons; they have to keep track of who ordered what, who paid, who still owes; and they have to keep the bar stocked and clean

Team player – bartenders should be adept at working in a team environment, as they work closely with waitstaff, managers, and other servers

Bartender Tools of the Trade

Basic mixology tools – from cocktail shakers to muddlers, bartenders use various mixing tools to prepare different types of drinks

Basic bar tools – corkscrews, bottle openers, and more

Cash register – in most settings, bartenders are responsible for handling money and should know how to operate a cash register

Bartender Education and Training

There is no formal degree requirement for those seeking to become a bartender, however, most employers seek job candidates who have completed a training program at a vocational or technical school. These kinds of programs address such topics such as mixology, classes of alcohol, garnishes, and brand names.

Bartender Salary