alchemy bar introduction

[alchemybar]

Hi all - hope this is the right place to do this :)

I discovered this wonderful website by accident and have only just joined up. I have a bar and restaurant in Tasmania (an island state to the south of mainland Australia). It's been very interesting to read about how different the industry seems to be in the U.S.

Our facebook is at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=40157212988 where you can see some pictures of what we look like.

Your spirit prices are amazing! What we call a first pour or basic spirit(your "well brands") cost us around the $28 a bottle mark with tax and our prices are around $7.00 for 30ml (roughly an ounce). Tap beer (draft beer) costs around $175 for a 50 litre keg and we sell a 10oz for $4 for basics and around $5 for imports like Stella or Heineken.

Our house wines cost around $4 to $5 for a 750ml bottle and they sell at $6 for a glass (between 120 & 150ml).

Shots start at $8.50 for 30mls and we try to keep to sweeter liqueurs and away for high alcohol content as we have very strict laws around serving intoxicated patrons - $600 fine for the bartender and $1800 for the licensee per offence.

Anyway, nice to meet you all and hopefully I can transplant some ideas halfway around the word!

Nick

[Havensloft]

Nice place. Welcome.

[alchemybar]

Thank you. We're having a heatwave (for us) at the moment. 35 degrees celcius, not sure on farenheit. It's driving a few drinkers our way mid-week, which is nice.

We're about 3 weeks from University (college) starting their new year. Maybe we can introduce them to beer pong :). No-one has heard of it over here.

[alchemybar]

Well, I thought I'd try and provide an update from the other side of the world.

Alcohol, and those who sell it, are the current anti-christs in Australia. We're copping threatened tax increases, a recession, and scaremongering on the TV constantly about how people shouldn't eat out or go drinking because the world will end.

We're heading towards winter but bar trade is holding up nicely and meals are ok. Restaurant Avg Spend is in the mid $40's which takes some pressure off turning tables over.

Week night bar trade is good, and Fri/Sat nights have become very consistent which takes the dread out of Sat/Sun morning when I count the take :)

We've done another contra deal with the local TV station (we got advertising, they get food) for $5k (morning spots are $50, prime time $500) and leased a billboard to advertise Alchemy.

Anyway, update done for now

Nick

[AF_COP]

Hey Alchemybar,

Do me a favor... go into your bathroom, flush your toilet and video it for me... i heard your water drains opposite than us? how werid?

Just kidding... welcome to the site! Glad to see this site becoming more international... Im in Germany and i think there are a few non-us based members on the site....

In Portugal and England (why are there so many Aussies in England anyway?) Ive partyed with some Aussies... best damn people ive ever drank with...

Welcome to the site...

[monkee28]

Alchemy,
How tuff is the government is Tassie. I honestly do not know what the Melb & NSW are government coming up with all these ideas that will stop binge drinking.

[alchemybar]

They're getting worse all the time down here. Using Liquor Accords to try and get further restrictions not covered by law like lockouts, promotions etc.

The problem we face is that the majority do most of their drinking at home and then come into the city to party so that we have to clean up the mess and get the bad rap for binge drinking.

Outlaw bottle-shops and see what happens lol.