Drunks & Loiters

[NewBar]

Please provide best business practices for dealing with drunks & loiters

[UpScale Lounge]

Where are they loitering??? Have you tried talking to them. It worked for me when I was a bar manager at a club. I was cordial and they took the crowd elsewhere. A few of them would come by often and ask could they clean the parking lot or empty trash or something in exchange for a drink or change. A couple of them I had to call the police since they continued to loiter after requesting they not do that. We also had a sign outside the building.

[Kepi]

Please provide best business practices for dealing with drunks & loiters
In my experience (as door security as well as running a club) being friendly is the best way.

Pretend that you cannot hear them cos of background noise and suggest that maybe you step outside where it is quieter, then once outside calmly point out that they have had one over the eight and they go home for the night.... tell them they are welcome back another time and smile.

(as learned when in police) joining an arguement with a drunk you never win, always be polite and smile and don't enter into a conversation as it quickly degenerates and you will lose :)

Loiterers............. hmmmm, ask them if they want a refill, do this twice, if it doesn't work, clear away the table, this might serve as a hint, if there are people standing, suggest maybe that they vacate their seats for customers. If all else fails a baseball bat and a can of mace can work wonders :)

[intensity]

I've always said this business would be alright if it wasn't for the darn customers.

[NewBar]

Thank you much, taking them outside to chat is a great idea, will implement. We've just celebrated our two year anniversary, we're doing better than expected (slow but steady growth). Our building has never been a bar b4, we've never been in the bar biz until now, we're a bar only (no food), learning as we go... our biggest challenge has been promoting and the City has closed our road (developers). We've found hiring an off duty City cop (once per month) to be invaluable.

[Havensloft]

Thank you much, taking them outside to chat is a great idea, will implement. We've just celebrated our two year anniversary, we're doing better than expected (slow but steady growth). Our building has never been a bar b4, we've never been in the bar biz until now, we're a bar only (no food), learning as we go... our biggest challenge has been promoting and the City has closed our road (developers). We've found hiring an off duty City cop (once per month) to be invaluable.

Congratulations on your 2nd anniversary! Too bad about the road being closed though, bummer.

[Lauren Tyson]

What's contributing to people becoming drunk in the first place? Here are just a few examples:
Are you serving more than 1 drink at a time?
Do you permit patrons to buy rounds?
What is your standard serving size?
Do you have drinking games?
Do you offer 2 for 1's? Buy 1 get 1 free?

As far as loitering, where are they loitering, inside or out?
I like the suggestion about inviting them outside and being friendly (but firm).
If outside, do you have a sign posting about no loitering?

To get to the root cause of any problem, ask "why" five times. For example,
-"Why do I have drunks?"
Because people are drinking too much.
-"Why are people drinking too much?"
Because servers are overserving.
-"Why are servers overserving?"
Because they don't know the rules.
-"Why don't they know the rules?"
Because we haven't put them in writing and given them to them.
-"Why haven't I put the rules in writing?"
Because I haven't taken the time to do it...

See how that works?

As mentioned in the "Ask Why 5 Times" scenario, DO you have written alcohol management policies? That is, something in writing so that all staff members know what the house rules are? This is critical, not only to lay the foundation for training staff, but written policies can help defend you in court, also.