Author: Peter Cutforth

  • RSA Course QLD – Teaches Valuable Safety

    RSA Course QLD – Teaches how to keep your valuables safe

    We will all, at some point, let our guard down at work. Even the super-cautious will momentarily forget that anything that is left on the bar, can be snatched up and never seen again. Keys, cigarettes, lighters, sunglasses, books, you name it, anything can sprout legs in a bar. Mix in alcohol and people become less observant and more forgetful. A customer’s quick trip to the bathroom, could result in a stolen purse or jacket, and cost you a bartab when it’s time to pay up.

    RSA Course QLD

    Be vigilant! Every time you notice something on the bar, point it out to the owner. If they leave it there when the get up, remind them that it could get stolen. Make a mental note of the possessions that customers walk in with. If a tall brunette walks in with a leather bag, but a blond takes it off the bar stool, you can catch it, preventing a theft. Make a habit of complimenting customers on their jackets or bags. Saying this out loud makes it possible for other customers to take notice of what other people have in their possession, so when a theft does occur, possible witnesses multiply.

    Get in a good habit! Make it a habit to NEVER put anything that belongs to you, on the bar. Designate a space for your personal belongings and always put them there. Keep your cell phone in your pocket, even if it is policy to keep it turned off. Don’t bring your credit cards or large amounts of money to work with you. If you drop your wallet, chances of a stranger returning it are slim. Keep your valuables locked in your car, preferably in your glove compartment (LOCKED). Purses disappearing out from behind a bar is common, try locking them in the office or under a counter, out of sight.

    If you are positive that a customer has stolen something, be upfront about it. Don’t be timid about asking them to empty their pockets. An innocent person should have no problem proving that they are innocent. Someone who has something to hide, will immediately get defensive. You can always explain to them, that if the tables were turned, they would want you to do whatever it took to get their stolen belongings back. If it turns out that you have wrongly accused someone, apologize, buy them a drink and try to smooth it over.

    Make it clear to your customers that you will tolerate zero amount of theft on your watch!

    RSA Course QLD, NT,SA, and WA – RSA course online – Responsible Service of Alcohol

     

  • RSA QLD – Mix It Right

    RSA QLD presents ideas in mixing

    Recipes are great. They give you instructions, ingredients, and even ideas about how to make drinks. But some recipes are not very specific about how to put the drink together. Words like “combine” or “mix” can leave a bartender a little confused about the best way to go about it. Some call for shaking, others call for blending, while some drinks don’t tell you anything but a list of ingredients. Mixing does make a huge difference in the taste and quality of a drink. For instance, a Sex With an Alligator needs to be layered, not mixed, otherwise it tastes like rust. The flavors need to be in a certain order to deliver the desired effect.

    RSA QLD – Course Online

    A thought to keep in mind when there are no specific instructions is to look at the ingredients. Drinks that call for pureed juiced or very thick mixes should be “rolled”. Rolling is pouring the drink from one glass to another, until completely mixed. The purpose is to avoid making the drink overly frothy, like shaking would.

    Drinks containing sugar, milk or regular juices should be shaken. You can use a regular metal shaker with a lid or a pint glass. If you are mixing a drink using sugar, a pint glass, instead of a lid, will allow you to see if the sugar has dissolved better.

    Drinks that call for stirring are typically made with soda or tonic. Shaking these would cause them to go flat. They are, often, very simple, typically a mixer and one alcohol.

    Floating or layering keeps the ingredients, in a drink, separate. You can layer a drink by slowly pouring a liqueur down a rod, back of a spoon or the edge of the glass. The order is very important, as some liqueurs are heavier than others. The temperature is also important, colder is heavier and thicker. Most layered recipes will call for it specifically.

    Blending a drink usually will call for ice, though some creamy drinks don’t. Most drinks that are shaken can also be a frozen drink, if you just throw everything in a blender. A blended drink should usually cost a little more, since it is a small amount of extra work.

    The RSA course Online (RSA QLD, RSA NT, RSA WA, RSA SA) allows you to serve alcohol in Australia.

    Get your RSA Qld or Queensland certificate here at RSA course online

  • One Bottle

    If you are planning an event, knowing how many drinks that one bottle of alcohol will make is key. If the average amount for each drink is 1.5 oz, then One 750 mk will make 15-17 drinks or shots. One Liter will produce 21-23 drinks or shots. And one 1.5 Liter bottle will make 38-40 drinks.

     

  • Do Your RSA Course And Be Squeaky Clean

    Your RSA Course Will teach You How To Be Squeaky Clean When It Comes To the Rules And Regulations And Cleanliness

    RSA Course and Squeaky Clean Glasses

    Try as you might, it can seem impossible to get glassware spotless.While shot glasses may be emptied so quickly that a smudge may go unnoticed and drinks served over ice may camouflage a dirty glass, a professional will never take the chance. Having a  customer point out that their glass is dirty wastes time and money, diminishes reputation, and creates more work. Washing is only the first step. When using a barsink brush set, remember to use a twisting motion not an up and down one. Pay special attention to the rim of a glass, lip products are sticky and can be harder to remove. Rinse well, detergents may leave residue that can cause cloudiness in the glass and diarrhea in the customer. Wipe dry with a NON-Terry cloth towel. Terry cloth towels leave lint behind. Stemware is the most likely culprit for being called out on water spots and lint. Sometimes additional steps are needed to ensure that wine glasses, which are scrutinized while customers examine the color and clarity of the wine through the glass, are smudge free. Simply pour very hot water in a bowl, hold glass over water, allowing condensation to accumulate on glass. Wipe clean with dry, non-terry cloth.

    RSA Course And Work Relationships

    There is a reason why office romances are frowned upon. When its over, you still have to see that other person. Throw alcohol into the mix, and you have a highly volatile situation. Bartender Sheri has been flirting with Mark, a Saturday night regular. They date and start to get a little serious, when all of a sudden, things go wrong and they break up. Most girls would have the luxury of avoiding their ex, but not Sheri. Sheri has the misfortune of watching her ex hit on other women every Saturday night. Most girls would be able to leave if things got too painful, but Sheri has to stand there and be professional. If she has a melt down, she has to work through it, in front of her customers, coworkers and Mark. Bartender Alex has the sweetest girlfriend. They have been dating for 4 months. Alex has decided that despite his coworkers warnings, he is going to have his girlfriend, visit him at work. After a few shots of tequila, Alex’s sweet girlfriend is an angry, jealous girlfriend who threatens every woman that looks at Alex. After causing a fight, management asks Alex to not have his girlfriend in the bar again. These are worst case scenarios, but they have happened. Not all relationships will end badly, or even humiliate you in front of your co-workers, in a bar. You should ask yourself, however, is it worth it if it does happen? The RSA course is is more about rules and regulations which is why we write blog posts on all sorts of situations that may occur when you are working behind the bar so you can think about what you might do.The RSA course teaches how to serve alcohol responsibly. Do your RSA Course Online and work behind a bar in Australia. RSA – Responsible service of Alcohol

     

  • RSA Brisbane – Bar Essentials

    Have you done your RSA Brisbane course and need some tips for working in a bar.

    RSA Brisbane and Making Juice

    When you squeeze fresh citrus fruit, you are essentially putting enough pressure on the tiny juice sacs to cause them to burst and expel juice. Hand squeezing produces juice fastest, but produces the least amount of juice of any other juicing method. One way to maximize juice production is to cut limes in half by width, like you do when making fruit wheels. Stab the fruit with a knife or fork several times from the inside of the fruit, making sure that you are slicing through to the other side. Try to break as many juice sacs as possible.

    RSA Brisbane – Tiki Bar Essentials

    The perfect addition to an outside affair, is a tiki bar. It gives an exotic flair to business, formal or, otherwise, humdrum occasions. While other bars and wait staff may be serving shots, champagne or elegant drinks, the tiki bar serves fun in a glass! Setting one up can be just as fun. This calls for imagination when choosing your supplies. Here is a list of basics. At least 2 blenders 3 shakers Cocktail glasses Margarita Glassed Hurricane glasses Shooters Collins or pints Rum, rum and more rum, flavored (especially coconut), lite, dark and spiced Tequila Vodka Flavored schnaps, butterscotch, melon, cherry, peach, apple, berry… Coffee flavored liqueur Triple Sec Sweetened Lime Juice Grenadine Fresh Fruit: lime, lemon, pineapple, orange, grapefruit, papaya, mango Fresh mint and ginger Coconut cream, pina colada mix Regular sized straws, not cocktail straws Sugar Salt Fruit Juices Umbrella skewers Maraschino cherries Grater Muddler Cutting board Paring knives Measuring spoon Fresh flowers, such as orchids Rose water Milk or Cream Daiquiri mixes, strawberry, peach, passion fruit… LOTS OF ICE!

    RSA Brisbane – Perfect Mojito

    Why use a Mojito Mix, when you can look like a pro making this easy and refreshing drink from scratch? Perfect Mojito 2 oz of Lite Rum club soda or tonic water a few sprigs of fresh mint ½ shot glass of white sugar 1 fresh lime In a pint, muddle 3 sprigs of mint, sugar and tonic water or club soda until sugar is almost completely dissolved. Tonic water will make a sweeter drink. Cut lime in half. Squeeze both halves into drink and drop one half in, discard THE other. Add rum, fill with ice and stir. Garnish with lime wheel and fresh mint sprig. To make and serve these drinks in Australia you will need to do the RSA course (RSA Brisbane , RSA WA, RSA NT, RSA SA)

     

  • RSA WA – Getting Your Routine Down

    Need Your RSA WA?

    When anyone starts a new job, they usually find that it is best to follow the training that management has provided, but sometimes there is no routine. Creating your own routine will come from trial and error. One night you may not stock beers in time for them to be cold and so the next night you make sure that your do that soon after clocking in. Setting a great routine can save you a big headache later. RSA WA Course There are many things that you need to know when starting out in a bar. The RSA WA course will teach you many of the rules and regulations around serving alcohol in Australia and also help you to get into good routines. Some may find that it is best to write thier routine down. Write down all your job duties, as well as, all the little tips that you have learned since starting your job. Start off with clocking in, filling ice bins, stocking things that should be cold, and so on.  Don’t forget to add double counting your register, turning on “open” signs and getting change. A tangible list will also come in handy if you have to train someone. Making copies that can be checked off until the routine becomes second nature, can also help to establish your professional presence and help you gain management’s confidence. Want to impress your patrons and management? Learn about the alcohol that you serve. You don’t have to be a wine connoisseur to learn the differences between the major kinds of wine. If you serve five different brands of scotch, try all of them. You can use a ¼ of a shot and break open the true flavor with a splash of water. You don’t have to like it, but if you can taste the difference between something that is rich and smokey, as opposed to something light and acidic, it could help when a customer is having a hard time deciding between brands. With all the microbreweries out now, new beers are always on demand. You could be an asset to your employer if you could give them a heads up on good one. Also, learning how a pilsner differs from a porter, or how a stout compares to a lager will earn you points with management. You will seem educated and professional, not to mention, kind of cool. Read up on the history of alcohol. Learn fun facts and start discussions with your customers. Trivia not only sparks up conversation, but might also start a craving for some of the things that you are talking about, boosting sales. Management will notice.

    Find out more about the RSA WA course and doing your Responsible service of alcohol course online.

     

  • Stopping a mate from driving drunk

    It’s probable that we will all get to a point in our life where one of our mates is thinking about driving somewhere while under the influence of alcohol. As the video below outlines, it’s not worth letting anyone drive while drunk, just so you don’t stick out.Watch and see:

    This is all what the RSA training course online will teach you about. Even as a staff in a bar, it is important that you do not let anyone drive home drunk. Think about it, you could pay for their cab fair home, and save a life for only a few bucks, it’s always worth stopping a drunk patron driving

     

  • RSA Certificate Recommends Non Alcoholic Drinks For The Designated Driver

    RSA Certificate Recommends Drinks For the D.D.

    Responsible drinkers need responsible bartenders and a ride home. Being the designated driver can be a challenge, especially when other people see that they are not drinking and try to shove drinks in their faces. Your job as a bartender is not just serving alcohol, it is serving all customers responsibly. Your RSA certificate is needed in order to serve alcohol in Australia So why not reward a DD with fun and tasty concoctions. Here are a few recipes to try, as alternatives to soda and water.

    No Bull

    Ingredients 3 oz Red Bull or any carbonated energy drink 2 oz Pineapple juice 2 oz Cranberry juice Shake and serve over ice in Pint, garnish with fruit wheel.

    Sparkler

    Ingredients 4 oz citrus soda 2 oz Red Bull or any carbonated energy drink 2 oz cranberry juice splash of grenadine Serve over ice in Collins glass, garnish with fruit wheel

    Virgin With a Tan

    Ingredients 2 oz Pinacolada Mix 1 oz orange juice 1 oz pineapple juice 1 oz cranberry juice 1 oz sweetened lime juice splash of grenadine Blend in blender with scoop of ice, serve in Hurricane glass, garnish with fruit and umbrella skewer. Add a splash of fruit juice , grenadine, or sweet and sour mix to regular or lemon-lime soda for a festive feel.

    Lemon Lime Explosion

    3/4 glass lemon lime and bitters 1/4 glass cranberry juice Ice cubes or blended with ice   In Austraila you require an RSA certificate to serve alcohol. However these drinks do not have alcohol and could be served at under 18 parties or other events where alcohol is not allowed. The RSA certificate teaches you about responsible service of alcohol so that you know when to stop serving people who have had to much to drink. This is very important for the safety and well being of the community and for the person involved.

    So get your RSA certificate today so you can work behind a bar and serve up some of these tasty drinks to the designated drivers.