Author: Peter Cutforth

  • Bartenders Survival Kit – RSA Training

    RSA Training – Always be Prepared

    As a bartender, you will find that there are slow nights and there are nights that you barely have time to breath, luckily RSA training is here to help. There will be nights when you wish that you had never even clocked in. And there will be times when you find yourself ill prepared. You will kick yourself for not having extra this or one of those and you will learn from every situation, because RSA training Australia can only teach you preliminary requirements and your experience is crucial to learning. Some bartenders carry a bag of some sort, filled with their individual “must haves”. Here are a few things that you might want to keep packed in a bag and stored in your vehicle or behind the bar. This RSA Training will teach you what you need to keep handy and why.

    RSA – Training you in things to always have handy

    1. Extra Shoes: Sometimes you may come close to trading your soul for a pair of flip flops when you wear a new pair of shoes to work.
    2. Panadol: this can come in handy for you or a cranky customer,  but with RSA training you shouldn’t need panadol to calm a customer.
    3. Safety Pins: You never know when a wardrobe mishap will happen.
    4. Spare Change Of Clothes: In case the wardrobe mishap is bigger than a safety pin can fix.
    5. Super Glue: Band Aids just don’t work on a bartenders fingers, but super glue can close a wound and get you back to slinging drinks in no time.
    6. Snack: Museli bar, peanuts, crackers… anything to stave off hunger when you need a quick snack. Snacks will sustain you when trying to remember all those RSA training tips!
    7. Lighters: Even if you don’t smoke, it is nice to have a lighter for those who have lost theirs.
    8. Spare Keys
    9. Chewing Gum
    10. Condoms: Even if you don’t need them, someone will. And people who have been drinking will often overlook this sort of protection. You can’t keep people from going home with each other, but you can offer them some protection. Safe sex is nothing to be squeamish about.
    11. Ponytail Holders: Women who have been dancing and are sweaty will ask for them ALL THE TIME.
    12. (LADIES) Sanitary Napkins or Tampons: Not only is it a good idea to keep them for yourself, but women will ask you if you have them.
    13. Deodorant: You will sweat!
    14. Eye Drops: If you work in a smoking environment, you may find this handy.
    15. Nail File: You will break nails.
    16. Pens: It never fails, the busiest nights are when all the pens disappear.
    17. Deck of Playing Cards: There is a guy in every crowd who will ask for them, I don’t get it but there is.
    18. Phone Book: Never hurts to have one on hand, in case the bar gremlins hijack the bar’s phonebook.

    In addition to these 18 things you should bring to work, you may want to check out a bartenders 5 things they learned about bar tending.

    In addition to these 18 must haves behind your counter, always know how to use the basic bar tools that are already present, for your mixology. Check out the video below – (not presented by RSA training online).

     


    So visit RSA training online to get your license, and work behind a bar. It is both skilled and rewarding work.

  • Through the Grapevine

    It is so tempting to indulge in a bit of gossip now and then, but is it a
    good idea? Some customers may appreciate the juicy conversation, but what will they say about you later? It  may seem harmless, but adding to the rumor mill can cause you to appear to be a nosy busybody.

    Learning the difference between friendly banter and gossip can help to establish you as a professional. If there is any confusion as to the type of verbal activity that you are about to participate in, ask yourself if it will hurt anyone. Will the information cause anyone humiliation? Could you say this to anyone and not cause drama? Do you feel the need to whisper it, when certain people are in the room? If you answer yes to any of those questions, keep it to yourself.

    The grapevine isn’t just an ingredient for wine! Be careful of what you hear and say!

     

    But don’t forget to complete your RSA Online so that you can work in a bar or restaurant. The online course is fast, straight forward and can be done in any intervals.

     

  • The Injector

    Every bar should have the usual set up, shakers, spoons, a variety of glasses, ice scoop, and so on. One cool tool to add to your bar arsenal is a 30ml or 45ml jelly injector. No, not to drink from, but to use when making layered drinks. You can use it to inject liqueurs into shots. The more you practice, the better your shots will look. You can make hearts, mushrooms, and with a lot of practice, a four leaf clover.

    Lady Bug

    Ingredients

    ⅔ shot Cherry Schnapps or Raspberry Schnapps, chilled

    ⅓ shot Dark Creme De Cocoa, chilled in injector

    In a shot glass, pour half shot of Schnapps, and inject three blobs of Creme De Cocoa. One suspended close to the bottom and two suspended closer to the top. Float with remaining Schnapps.

     

    Heart A Flame

    Ingredients

    ⅔  shot Cinnamon Schnapps, chilled

    ⅓ shot Hot Damn!, chilled

    a splash of Bacardi 101

    In a shot glass, pour 2/3 shot of Cinnamon Schnapps into a shot glass. Make a suspended heart in the centre of the Cinnamon Schnapps by injecting a tiny bit of Hot damn and pulling upward and to the right dragging and pushing the plunger to form an upside-down tear drop. Then do this to the left. Float a small amount of Bacardi 101 on the top and ignite. Make sure that it is a very small amount of Bacardi. Serve flaming!

    Dont forget that in order to make these drinks at a licensed premises you need to first obtain your responsible service of alcohol certificate from RSA QLD (valid for QLD, NT, SA & WA) online.

  • Christmas season is in – But beware of who you serve to, even at an office party

    Beware legal traps in your end-of-year festivities

    Below is a news story on the holiday season and why you should not feel bullied to serve alcohol to people you know.

    Published | December 9, 2011
  • RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) Course Online Presents – The Art of the Twist

    Those beautiful spirals of yellow, green and orange look pretty simple, but there is more to them than just cut and twist, and Responsible Service of Alcohol Online will give you the ability to work in a bar, and try out some of these extravagant techniques to flare up your drinks. Finding the right pieces of fruit and choosing the appropriate sizes are steps in making a good drink, a great one. You have to think about the person that will be drinking them. There is not a “one size fits all” standard when it comes to garnishing a drink. One size fits all is more than often not the case when it comes to drinks, which is something the online responsible service of alcohol course will  teach you in depth.

     Responsible Service of Alcohol – Fruit that’s ripe for the picking!

    First, you need to find the freshest, most ripe piece of fruit to cut your twists from. An old, dry citrus fruit will put off the least amount of oil. While being aesthetically pleasing, twists should also deliver an aromatic and flavourful hint of citrus. To find the best fruit, look for the most smooth pieces. Citrus fruit with deep wrinkles and pores tend to be dry. Greenish lemons and oranges are not quite ripe and will have an unsavoury taste. You can also try scratching the peel lightly with your fingernail or the edge of a knife, if this produces a light spraying affect, then it is a good piece to use for twists. It’s a bit like judging when to serve someone alcohol, which the Responsible Service of Alcohol qld (or any state) course will teach you, you have to be able to judge whether a fruit is prime enough to be used in a drink without spoiling it. But always remember to be creative with your creations, so you and your customers stay interested; use this webpage to learn how to garnish with almost any fruit and add your own combinations.

    Using the right tools – Responsible Service of Alcohol (and service of fruit drinks!)

    Next, you want to find the right tool. Some prefer to cut twists right off the fruit with paring knives or channel / fruit knives, while others slice the fruit and cut way the pith. There is no “right” way. Even channel knives may leave too much pith attached to the twist, depending on the thickness of the peel. What is important, is that you find a way that you are comfortable with. Sometimes preparing twists in advance is acceptable, but other times making them on the fly is required. If you are not comfortable doing it, customers will surely notice, and you may even waste fruit in the process. A perfect twist should have little pith, but plenty of oil and thick enough to hold its shape.

    Sizing your customer up is key to preparing a satisfying drink and sizing up your customer for how much they have had to drink is also important, and something that the Responsible Service of Alcohol course will teach you. One example is where they are sitting. If a customer is sitting at the bar, a big spiral hanging off the glass is easy to handle. If they are sitting or, especially, standing elsewhere, in a crowded bar, then you might want to add a smaller twist that sits inside the glass. Nothing is more annoying than handing off a beautiful cocktail, only to watch the garnish fall off as soon as the customer steps away from the bar, but if they are stumbling, the responsible service of alcohol course will teach you that you shouldn’t have served them in the first place. Also, keep in mind that your waitress’ trays may end up with a large amount of drinks on them, crowding any garnishes that you add.

    But if you prefer to learn by watching, check out the video below that shows how to properly garnish a drink.

    Two more twist tips: Key limes make poor twists. Pink grapefruits add colour and make a lot of twists.

    Get your responsible service of alcohol certificate today!

    Finally, make sure you complete your RSA training online so that you can work behind a bar and garnish your drinks in a way that pleases both you and your customers. The course is quick and can be done at any intervals, so why not start today?

  • RSA Online – Get your certification today!

    Responsible Service of Alcohol online is more that a certificate than you need to get, it’s a certificate you want to get. It’s a good feeling, to know that you have looked after someone properly, and have served safely.

    So go online and get your RSA Training certificate today so you can work in a bar and serve alcohol – open yourself up to more job opportunities and experiences!

  • Get your RSA so you can work in a bar, and have fun with it

    Get your RSA training certificate today so that you can work on your bar tending skills and have a job that you can enjoy and be creative with.

    Getting your responsible service of alcohol certificate will mean that you could one day end up like one of these famous bartenders. You might not think it at first but serving drinks can be a fun and exciting experience!

  • RSA Training Will Teach You How to Check IDs

    One of the most important things you should know as a bartender is how to properly card your patrons, to be sure that you are not serving anyone underage, and RSA Training can teach you how to properly check ID. First know the legal drinking age for your area, and know the earliest date and year that a person can legally drink. Next know the types of licenses and id’s that are used by your state and the surrounding area, and what each of them should look and feel like. Is it laminated, plastic; is it bendy? Check the edges of the card to make sure that it hasn’t been damaged or manipulated in anyway. If there are holographs across the card, be sure that they are visible on the images. A lot of the time, forgers will correctly manipulate the card, but fail to place holograms near or on the id. Also, be sure to only accept identification that provides a picture, so that you can see that the person in front of you is the person on the card. These are important points to check for that RSA training online will further demonstrate in its course.But always know that if you do serve a minor alcohol, you and your establishment could end up paying a fine on a check like this.

    RSA Training shows you when to make the right call

    If you work in a dark bar, keep a torch handy so that you can properly check an id without squinting from the lack of light. You are not obligated to serve the customer if you doubt the legitimacy of the id, and RSA training teaches you this is quite often the best option. If you do come across a fake id, confiscate the card, and have the offender removed from the premise, if necessary inform the police. If you are caught serving a minor, you will get in more trouble than if you chose not to serve the person.

    Learn from RSA training what to do if you are unsure about an ID

    Find an id that you aren’t sure is real? Ask questions and cross check them with the card. Inquire about their address and full name. Ask when they last renewed their license or when it expires. Find out when their birthday is, or when they last celebrated their birthday. If you can catch them off guard you might be able to trick them into giving honest answers.By completing RSA QLD training (or any other state training), will teach you that it is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to serving alcohol.

    Quick recap of what the RSA training would teach you in more depth:

    • Know your area’s legal drinking age.
    • Know how your state’s ID’s should look.
    • Keep an eye out for modified or damaged edges.
    • Check for holograms.
    • Only accept picture ids.
    • Keep a flashlight handy.
    • When in doubt ask questions.
    • You aren’t obligate to serve anyone when you can’t tell if the license is real or not.

    Following these guidelines will keep you from serving minors. For more information you can see another 13 steps on what to do when checking ID at this website, however it is not affiliated with proper RSA training so it may not include official recommended steps. This news report in America is still relevant throughout Australia, aside from the technology they are using to fight fake ID’s, which  may not be available in Australia – Listen as it describes how you will want to be able to detect any underage drinkers with fake ID, so you and your premises keeps its liquor license, and are not fined.

    Don’t forget, that before you can properly check ID’s and serve people alcohol, you need to complete your RSA Training Australia

  • Mmmmm Strawberries!

    Yes, they are girlie. Yes, they are sweet, but strawberry drinks are great sellers for bachelorette parties and girl’s nights out. When you see a group of ladies walk in the door, try breaking out a few of these recipes. Keep in mind that the difference between Strawberry Patch and Strawberry Schnapps is that Schnapps is sweet and sour, Strawberry Patch is sweet.

    Strawberry Shortcakes Shots

    Ingredients:

    1 part Vodka
    1 part Strawberry Schnapps
    1 part Vanilla vodka
    whipped cream (optional)
    Layer all three in equal parts, in a shooter glass, (optional) top with whipped cream

    Strawberry Milkshake

    Ingredients:

    1 scoop ice
    1 shot Strawberry Cream Liqueur
    1 shot Strawberry Schnapps
    1 shot Vanilla Rum (or rum with a dash of vanilla essence)
    1 shot Bailey’s Irish Cream
    4 fresh strawberries
    whipped cream (optional)
    Blend all liqueurs, ice and 3 strawberries. Serve in a tall glass topped with (optional) whipped cream, garnished with strawberry slice.

    Strawberry Pie Shot

    Ingredients:

    1 part Butter Shots
    1 part Strawberry Schnapps
    1 part Vanilla vodka
    Combine all ingredients in shot glass

    Strawberry Peach Margarita

    Ingredients:

    ½ scoop ice
    1 shot tequila
    1 shot Peachtree schnapps
    1 shot Strawberry Patch
    splash of sweet and sour
    4 fresh strawberries
    Blend all ingredients minus 1 strawberry. Serve in margarita glass, rimmed with sugar and garnished with whole strawberry, sliced from the bottom about halfway up and an umbrella skewer.

    Strawberry Punch

    Ingredients:

    1 shot vodka
    1 shot Strawberry Schnapps
    1 shot triple sec
    2 oz cranberry juice
    1 oz pineapple juice
    splash of sweet and sour
    Combine all ingredients in a tall glass over ice. Garnish with lemon wheel and maraschino cherry.

    Make sure you also check out this great video by Richard Scoffier on how to make an awesome strawberry cocktail.

     

    Don’t forget, if you want to be able to serve all these amazing drinks, you can complete the fast RSA training Australia course

  • RSA Online – So you can be responsible

    Drinks served responsibly are well served drinks. Your duty is to give the aura of elegance to a customers night by serving drinks – responsibly.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    You can serve drinks at any licensed establishment so long as you complete your RSA training course online