RSA Course Online

Tag: Responsible Service of Alcohol

  • RSA Update: Moderate Drinking Good for the Bones

     Reports detailing the benefits of moderate alcohol intake for the bones has been doing the rounds this week on the internet. It has been instigated by a finding by academics who claim to have assessed alcohols impact on bone regeneration in women who have gone through menopause. Moderate drinking has now been hailed as the solution to weak bones in postmenapausal women who often suffer from osteoporosis and other bones diseases. This study is particularly useful for women who cannot afford the costly medication needed to maintain bone density. A healthy diet, together with good and regular exercise when combined with moderate alcohol intake is said to increase the bone turnover and result in strengthened bones. The women in the study averaged 1.4 drinks a day and more than 90% were wine drinkers. As loss in bone density is a problem that experienced everyone who ages, the study may revolutionise the way people deal with bone diseases.

     

    According to a post found on The Jerusalem Post Website this is what the university study had to say:

     

    Moderate drinking as part of healthy lifestyle could lower risk of developing osteoporosis, new study finds.

     

    Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol as part of a healthy lifestyle may benefit women’s bone health, lowering their risk of developing osteoporosis.

     

    A new study assessed the effects of alcohol withdrawal on bone turnover in postmenopausal women who drank one or two drinks per day several times a week. Researchers at Oregon State University measured a significant increase in blood markers of bone turnover in women after they stopped drinking for just two weeks.

     

    Bones are in a constant state of remodeling with old bone being removed and replaced. In people with osteoporosis, more bone is lost than reformed resulting in porous, weak bones. About 80 percent of all people with osteoporosis are women, and postmenopausal women face an even greater risk because estrogen, a hormone that helps keep bone remodeling in balance, decreases after menopause.

     

    Past studies have shown that moderate drinkers have a higher bone density than non-drinkers or heavy drinkers, but these studies have provided no explanation for the differences in bone density. Alcohol appears to behave similarly to estrogen in that it reduces bone turnover, the researchers said.

     

    In the current study, published online July 11 in the journal Menopause, researchers in OSU’s Skeletal Biology Laboratory studied 40 early postmenopausal women who regularly had one or two drinks a day, were not on any hormone replacement therapies, and had no history of osteoporosis-related fractures.

     

    The researchers found evidence for increased bone turnover – a risk factor for osteoporotic fractures – during the two week period when the participants stopped drinking. Even more surprising: the researchers found that less than a day after the women resumed their normal drinking, their bone turnover rates returned to previous levels.

     

    “Drinking moderately as part of a healthy lifestyle that includes a good diet and exercise may be beneficial for bone health, especially in postmenopausal women,” said Urszula Iwaniec, associate professor in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at OSU and one of the study’s authors. “After less than 24 hours to see such a measurable effect was really unexpected.”

     

    Iwaniec, OSU’s Skeletal Biology Laboratory director Russell Turner, and researcher Gianni Maddalozzo assisted OSU alumna Jill Marrone with the study, which was Marrone’s master’s thesis.

     

    This study is important because it suggests a cellular mechanism for the increased bone density often observed in postmenopausal women who are moderate drinkers, Turner said.

     

    The researchers said many of the medications to help prevent bone loss are not only expensive, but can have unwanted side effects. While excessive drinking has a negative impact on health, drinking a glass of wine or beer regularly as part of a healthy lifestyle may be helpful for postmenopausal women.

     

    “Everyone loses bone as they age, but not everyone develops osteoporosis,” Turner said. “Being able to identify factors, such as moderate alcohol intake, that influence bone health will help people make informed lifestyle choices.”

     

    The study was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the John C. Erkkila, M.D. Endowment for Health and Human Performance.

     

    Source: http://www.jpost.com/Health/Article.aspx?id=277422

     

    Posted by Peter Cutforth

     

     

  • Sydney Bartender Nabs World Title

    Accolades have been piling on for Sydney bartender Tim Phillips who has be named the top bartender in the world. Phillips, who represented Oz for the second time won the contest which was held in Brazil last week. Last year he didn’t make the top 5, but this year he has taken top honours, putting critics to rest. Other Australian bartenders have someone to aspire to in Phillips.

     

    TheShout.com.au has a detailed post :

    BREAKING NEWS: Sydney bartender Tim Philips has won the international World Class title.

     

     Philips, of Hemmesphere was representing Australia for the second time in the World Class global finals run by Diageo in Rio de Janeiro this week.

     

     Philips represented Australia at the Global Finals last year where he placed 6th out of 34 contestants.

     

     He started his bartending career in Melbourne working for venues such as Ffour and Black Pearl before heading overseas to London where he worked at Milk&Honey and also won the 2009 UK Bartender of the year award.

     

     After a stint in France, where he was managing The Clubhouse, a member-only cocktail bar, he returned to Australia and set up camp in Sydney, working at Merivale’s ivy Level 6 bar. He is currently in the process setting up his own bar which is expected to open later this year.

     

     The news of Philips’ victory has been enthusiastically embraced by the local bartending community with an overwhelming number of people offering their congratulations through Facebook.

     

     Read more at: http://www.theshout.com.au/2012/07/13/article/Sydneys-Tim-Philips-wins-World-Class/MRKVUZVPLH.html

     

    This report in thedailytelegraph.com.au provides even more detail on the post:

    AN Australian bartender has been named the world’s best at a prestigious awards ceremony in Rio.

     

    Tim Philips, 28, who works at swanky Hemmesphere in Sydney, was chosen over 50 other finalists to be named the Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year.

     

    According to organisers, he “captivated judges with his winning signature serve, a twisted chic cocktail: Hot Toddy Australia, made with Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve blended scotch whisky, honey, cinnamon quill, ginger and innovative technique”.

     

    Over the past year, 15,000 contenders from top bars around the world have competed in local and regional heats.

     

    “I am thrilled and humbled,” the Aussie said

     

    Source: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/tim-phillips-from-hemmesphere-name-worlds-best-bartender/story-fncvk70o-1226425758683

     

    Other bartenders who want to give Phillips a run for his money next year had better develop their mixology skills.

     

    We start you off with a few of the basics that you need to learn in order to make it in the world of bartending:

     

    • Learn which is more appropriate for certain drinks. When to Shake and When to Stir Cocktails
    • The importance of ice, its varying forms and which way to best use it in different drinks
    •  The appropriate glass serving ware for various drinks
    • How to present a drink so that it is aesthetically pleasing
    • Develop speed and accuracy in amounts when mixing
    • Which combinations work best.
    • Which cocktails require which mixers.
    • If there is a certain order for pouring certain drinks and hat this order is.
    • Get a good amount of cocktail recipes under your belt and be innovative in creating your own twists. Putting a spin on the old classics will keep it exciting and impress the judges.
    • Learn how to measure quantities efficiently and quickly, there’s nothing worse than waiting forever for a drink
    • Know your alcohols

     

    Most importantly in Oz the government requires that you undergo Responsible Service of Alcohol Training. The good news is that it can be done online, cheaply, conveniently and quickly. Don’t bother with expensive and inconvenient face to face training when you can complete your online RSA course today.

     

    Topics to be covered by The Course Include:

     

    1. An Introduction to RSA: Which will help trainees understand the purpose for Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA).  Here trainees will learn about the principles of RSA and the role of Government in developing and enforcing RSA legislation in NSW. Government officers and experienced licensees will explain many of these details so that you gain a thorough understanding from the people that know best.

     

    2.  RSA legislation:  Covers the skills and knowledge to sell or serve alcohol according to NSW legislation.  This topic will also outline the legal requirements of RSA. Industry professionals will explain the key aspects of RSA legislation and how it applies to your role in industry.

     

    3. The Impact of alcohol: Particularly the impact on patrons including long-term health problems, associated with alcohol consumption. Learn how alcohol impacts on personal and community health. Once again we will call on the expertise of a professional, as a health professional will outline issues related to the sale and service of alcohol for different types of customers, especially those at risk. You will also see how to provide accurate information to customers on alcoholic beverages.

     

    4. RSA strategies:  This topic will give you a range of skills that will help you to comply with the requirements of the liquor laws.  In this topic you’ll look at role plays demonstrating best practice in RSA strategies so that you can gain practical knowledge on how to apply what you have learned.  You’ll also hear from licensees about how RSA is typically applied by staff in the workplace.

     

    So don’t delay visit www.rsaonline.com to complete your course!

     

    Posted by Peter Cutforth

     

     

  • How to Identify an Intoxicated Patron

    As a server of alcohol, part of your job is identifying customers who have had too much to drink and to whom service should be refused. For some patrons, it’s easy to spot, while others may be better at masking the true level of their intoxication. As you gain more experience in the industry it will become easier to spot those people, however RSA training will help.

     

    As a rule a person’s body can usually only process one unit of alcohol per hour. So during quieter times it will be easier to spot a person who is drinking more than they should. Generally because body mass affects the process of intoxication, a larger person will take longer to get drunk than a smaller person. However during busy times such as “happy hours” when you cannot keep track of drinkers and the amount of alcohol they are consuming this will be harder to notice. Often the same person may continuously approach the bar, especially when buying in rounds.

     

    Thankfully, intoxication presents itself in a number of visible ways. Everyone, even those not trained in Responsible Service of Alcohol can tell the most common symptoms. These includes slurred speech, swaying and bumping into things, inability to walk, rowdiness, anger, aggression even violence.  In a crowded and noisy bar, however, these could be difficult to notice. Something else to take note of would be a previously timid patron who becomes aggressive, a social person who becomes withdrawn or a quiet person who becomes overtly friendly.

     

    Steps you can follow:

     

    1.       Watch if a person becomes more confident with less inhibition.

     

    If the customer becomes more sociable, talkative and outgoing, beginning to lose some control of knowing how far they can go in a social setting, they are demonstrating the first signs of intoxication. Some of the behavioural indicators include louder speech that normal, mood swings and aggression.

     

    2.       Person begins to demonstrate poor judgement.

     

    As they become increasingly intoxicated the person will begin to show poor judgement. Inappropriate behaviour will be the next display, often not in line with the persons normal behaviour, such as the use of foul language, inappropriate jokes, overly flirtatious behaviour etc. Also as the person becomes more intoxicated instead of cutting down on drinking they usually increase their drinking and participate in drinking games, drinking beyond their capacity.

     

    3.       Stop the person from drinking anymore

     

    As soon as you identify signs of intoxication and physical impairment, don’t serve them anymore and make sure no one else does either. Cut off the source of the alcohol.  Some beginning signs of physical impairment are reactions like glassy, unfocused eyes; slurred speech; or forgetting thoughts in mid-sentence. Talking slowly or moving slowly or in a strange manner. At this stage the person will find it difficult to concentrate, walk a straight line or make coherent sentences.

     

     

     4.       Do not leave the intoxicated person alone

    If a person shows a loss of motor control or function, or poor coordination, they must not be left alone and they could become a danger to themselves or others. Stumbling or swaying, having difficulty with depth perception and dropping things repeatedly or having difficulty picking them up are signs that the person has progressed to this level.

    5.       Don’t ignore people who are not displaying the physical signs but are over the legal limit

     

    It is possible for people to develop a tolerance for alcohol, but that does mean that they are not legally intoxicated. It just means that visual recognition is more difficult. There are things to look for that will help. Look for a heavy smell of alcohol on a person’s breath or if they are sweating profusely when they probably should not be. Redness in the body’s extremities can also be a sign that a person should not be served or red eyes.

     

    Remember as a Server of Alcohol you have a responsibility to yourself, your customers and society to serve in the most responsible manner. Your actions have consequences that reach much further than yourself or your customer but may have serious ramifications on the community and society in general.

     

    Posted by Peter Cutforth

     

     

  • Dangers of Over Indulgence

    For most people alcohol represents the opportunity to relax and unwind while others use alcohol to dull their pain and often tend to overindulge. The number of people with alcohol addiction problems seems to be on the rise and problems associated with alcohol abuse also seem to be increasing.

     

    Alcohol intoxication puts people at risk of disease and injury. Alcohol can damage your organs – brain, liver, heart, kidneys, and lungs and make you more likely to act violently and aggressively.  You may break the law, or harm yourself and others. Risky sexual behaviour could lead to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) some life threatening. Alcohol intoxication and poisoning can put you into a coma and cause other dangerous situations.

     

    In cases of extreme intoxication, alcohol poisoning can result. The intoxicated person needs to seek medical care if they experience: sudden difficulty breathing or chest pain, a seizure, extreme sadness and depression to harm yourself or others, hallucinations, inability to stop vomiting.

     

    Once you seek medical care what are the procedures they are likely to follow?

     

    The purpose of responsible service of alcohol is to prevent drinking from reaching this stage of intoxication. However there are instances where people will drink to an extent that their body cannot handle and in this case they need to seek medical care.

     

    Some of the treatments doctors will recommend are medicines, such as sedatives to calm or relax an intoxicated person or anti-nausea medication to calm the stomach and reduce vomiting often associated with intoxication.  Doctors may also recommend glucose to increase blood sugar levels or Vitamin B1 if levels in the body are lowered due to the alcohol intake.

     

    Some intoxicated people may require breathing support. This may be in the form of oxygen or a ventilator. If blood oxygen levels are lower than normal, doctors may prescribe oxygen through a mask.  

     

    A ventilator may be used in extreme cases to convey oxygen and “breath for the person” This is an intrusive method and these people have endangered themselves to a serious extent and should consider rehab or therapy once they are physically better. . An endotracheal (ET) tube is put into your airway through your mouth or nose. Sometimes a tube is put into an incision in the front of your neck. The ET tube is attached to the ventilator.

     

    How to help an Intoxicated Person

     

    Some cases of intoxication may not be as serious and may be treatable at home. In this case a person can be cared for by a family member or friend at home. This should start by removing the person from the source of the alcohol, the bar or party.

     

    Secondly a safe environment should be provided that doesn’t make it easy for the person to injure themselves or other. For example prevent falls, keep away from dangerous machines and objects, prevent the person  from driving vehicles.

     

    Determine from the person if ethanol has been ingested and whether it has been combined with any medication such as illegal drugs or non-ethanol alcohols or even prescription drugs.

     

    Determine if the person can be awakened with a tug on the shoulder.  Also ensure that the person’s condition is not due to an underlying medical cause or injury. Ask the person about other conditions and look for any evidence of a head injury or other trauma.

     

    Remember that there is no medication that can speed up the sobering process. Caffeine and cold showers have a minimal and very temporary effect. Other home remedies that people often concoct may also have a temporary effect but a minimal one.

     

     It is also important to remember that while it is normal to vomit when intoxicated as the body tries to expel what it interprets as “poison” , continuous vomiting for extended periods of time can be dangerous and  indicative of an underlying problem, so medical attention should be sought. To learn more about the alcohol and its effects on drinkers complete our convenient Online RSA course. Visit www.rsaonline.com to learn more or to register.

     

    Posted by Peter Cutforth

     

  • RSA Update on Wine

    Are there benefits to Wine drinking?

     

    There has long been raging a debate as to whether or not wine presents any benefit to the health of its drinkers. Certainly a good argument has been that In ancient times when wine was the alcohol of choice people lived longer and healthier lives. In countries where wine is produced and forms part of everyday life the life span seems to be longer, such as in Mediterranean countries such as Italy and Spain. So does drinking a glass a day really have health benefits?

     

    Well according to numerous studies done wine has many health benefits, when enjoyed in moderation, a few glasses a week. Red wine in particular can be good for you although white wine also presents its benefits. According to research drinking red wine can lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimers, due to the grapes that make up the wine.

     

    Grapes contain in their skin miracle nutrients and are packed with Resveratol which actually protects the body’s cells. Saponin also contained in the grapes skin binds together with bad cholesterol and sifts it out of the body. The third magic component Flavonoids interfere and interrupt the multiplication of deadly cancer cells in the body.

     

    Non-alcoholic phytochemicals in wine, such as flavanoids and resveratrol, act as antioxidants and prevent molecules known as “free radicals” from causing cellular damage in the body.  Although some studies which have focused on the health benefits of resveratrol use much greater dosages than you’ll find in an average glass of wine, resveratrol has been shown to prevent blood clotting and plaque formation in arteries by altering lipid profiles and plasma viscosity.  Findings from a recent study suggest that resveratrol can produce potent anti-thrombotic agents that can potentially improve cardiovascular health and lower the risk for coronary heart disease.  In animal studies, resveratrol reduced tumours forming by affecting one or more stages of cancer development.

     

    The Documented Benefits of Wine Drinking

     

    It reduces the risk of a heart attack. Evidence collected by The Harvard School for Public Health suggests that moderate wine drinkers suffering from high blood pressure are 30 per cent less likely to have a heart attack than non-wine drinkers.

     

    Wine apparently promotes longevity.  Wine drinkers have a 34 per cent lower mortality rate than beer or spirits drinkers according to a Finnish study of 2,468 men over a 29-year period, published in the Journals of Gerontology, 2007.

     

    Wine can also reduce the risk of Type 2 Diabetes in drinkers according to a study by Amsterdam’s VU University Medical Centre who conducted studies on 369862 people found that moderate drinkers were 30 per cent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes that non-drinkers.

     

    Wine drinkers have a lower chance of a stroke because the possibility of suffering a blood clot–related stroke drops by about 50 per cent in people who consume moderate amounts of alcohol. This according to a study of 3176 people in 2006 by a Columbia University. The university also found that the problem of brain decline is another problem that aging causes. Brain function declines at a markedly faster rate in non-wine drinkers than in moderate drinkers.

     

    A problem that often plagues aged people, cataracts can be reduced by 32 per cent compared to people who drink beer.

     

    Wine consumption also cuts the risk of colon cancer by an astonishing 45 per cent, research by a Stony Brook University revealed in 2005.

     

    Although the benefits of wine have been well documented and the fact that moderate amounts of alcohol can raise your good cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) and thin your blood there are also negative consequences of wine abuse. Red wine in particular is better for your health than spirits and beer.

     

    Red wine provides much more resveratrol compared to white. That’s because the longer the skin is kept on the grape during the wine making process, the greater the concentration of resveratrol in the wine. In white wine production the grape skin is removed before fermentation giving white wines a lower concentration in resveratrol compared to red wines.

     

    The Negative Side Effects of Wine

     

    Higher Risk of contracting breast cancer. Studies have shown alcohol can increase oestrogen levels and raise tumour progression in women rather than destroy it as in other cases.

     

     Causes Migraines. Wine is often a big trigger for people who suffer with migraine headaches. Although white wine contains more sulfites than red wine (sulfites are added to white wine to preserve its light color), red wine seems to be a much bigger migraine trigger due to the accumulation of histamines and tannins from prolonged contact with the skin.

     

  • RSA Course Online and Dealing With Sudden Crowds

    The RSA course teaches you how to serve alcohol safely and responsibly. This means there is no excuse for not serving safely, even when you feel you are swamped with work. There will be situations where a sudden crowd may appear. This could be because an event has kicked on to your bar/club, or it could be because people have planned an event at your bar with a lot of people. You will find that around half the time, these groups will call you and tell you about the crowd that will be coming, but the other half of the time you will have no idea, and a quite Monday could pretty quickly turn into a massive influx to your bar. Then the problem lies in the fact there is simply not enough staff to cater for such a large crowd. But in this case, you only serve as fast as you can while still having safety precautions in mind, there is no excuse for a lack of safe serving – people can get hurt.

     

    So How Do I Handle These Crowds Of People?

     

    There are several things that you can do when confronted with a large crowd on a usually slow night. The first of which is to simply call in more people to serve that night which is the safest option. I know this can be an almost impossible task, but regardless it is necessary for the safety of the bar and it’s patrons. If you can’t get more people in to work, then people will simply get their drinks a bit slower. But you will probably end up having more people working behind the bar than out on the floor. However you always need to consider things like the fact that you still need people cleaning up glasses on tables and in the bar as this will ensure that there is less broken glass and the bar is less cluttered, and safer.

     

    Why Did I get This Crowd?

     

    Music is often the thing that defines a bar or a club as either good or bad, and you will find that most clubs have a DJ, or a pre-mixed CD so that people are not hearing something they have heard before – it’s new. This can often be how people decide whether a club is good or bad – simply by listening to the music they are playing. So if you have particularly good music the word may get around. If you have no DJ at a club: A club is different to a bar and is often in requirement of some sort of house/club music.

    For the Bars: In a bar it is a bit harder to define what needs to be played as it is really up to what atmosphere you want to create. A slow and casual bar will have different music to one that often gets busy/crowded at night. So you really have to make the call of what to play.

     

    Being a Bouncer:

     

    If you are prone to sudden crowds you may be wise to get some good bouncers

    If you think that this is for you, you might need to complete your RSA Course online, as bouncers can end up handling a lot of alcohol as employees of a bar. So do the course to get the RSA Certificate and start working today! Watching for Minors in a crowded bar

     

    It is a well known fact that there will be people who are under the legal drinking age that will try and get into a bar, or get served alcohol anywhere. But the RSA Course teaches you that this will incur a fine anywhere from $7,000 up, so you should really never be doing it! The RSA course teaches you, amongst other things, how to check if a minor is using a real id or not. It tells you what to look for in the case that the ID may be fake, or someone’s they are borrowing. Another tip, though, is to ask them questions about the ID just in case they are using someone elses. If they don’;t know their address, you can tell it’s not theirs!  ——-

     

    So Grab your RSA Course Certificate Online!

     

    There are a few options when considering the RSA Course, and the online version of the course is fast and straightforward whilst it still gives you the best information on how to serve safely. This means that you can get to applying for jobs faster, and you can start working sooner!

     

  • Starting Your Own Bar

     

    It is a dream of many to own their own bar or nightclub. Why not own the place that you go to every weekend. But it can be a costly exercise for those who don’t do their homework. We provide some helpful hints from a variety of sources on how to successfully open your own bar.

     

     

    New bars & nightclubs only get one shot at success.

     

    Every customer that comes through your doors is crucial & you need them to return. It is of vital importance that your venue is ready for success from day 1.

     

    Most bars fail in the first 12 months of opening because they don’t have an adequate plan in place.
    It is important to remember you are not just opening a bar but operating a business. The first priority is to come up with a concept for your bar then like any business, you require a Business Plan.

    source: http://www.entertainoz.com.au/article-detailview.cfm?aid=14908

     

     

    Writing a business plan and considering all the things that are needed for a successful bar is essential to get it right. The Australian Government has guidelines for small business owners.

    Depending on what type of business you intend to start, your business plan could include these elements:* executive summary – a one-page overview written after your business plan is finalised* introduction – explains the purpose and objectives of going into business* marketing analysis – looks at the industry you are entering and how you fit in* marketing plan – your marketing strategy* operations plan – how you’ll set up the business, i.e. structure, location, regulations* management plan – how you’ll manage your business* financial plan – how you’ll finance your business, costing and financial projections.Business planning is an ongoing business activity – you should regularly review and revise your business plan.

    source: http://www.business.gov.au/Howtoguides/Thinkingofstartingabusiness/Pages/HowdoIwriteabusinessplan.aspx

     

     

     

    Marketing your bar is also going to be very important. If you are set on being the only owner then it will be all up to you. But consider what this very successful bar owner did

     

     


    What was your most successful marketing exercise?    Easily our most successful marketing exercise was our very first. We took 20 investors into the Commercial Club Hotel. They had stakes ranging from $500 up to tens of thousands. Every one of them ‘owned’ the hotel. They were a marketing machine! Most were young and excited, and inspired by the chance to be involved in something so fun and so different. They filled our venue week after week after week.

    source: http://anthillonline.com/how-to-open-a-bar/

     

     

    Sometimes it can be hard to know how to start a bar, so check out the video below on how to do it! The video is primarily related to the US, but a lot of the information can be translated to Australia.

     

     

    Starting your own bar in Australia also means that you need your RSA Certificate, obtained through the RSA Course, so get online and get started today!

     

  • Responsible Service of Alcohol Update : Mexican Fiesta Cocktails

    Spice up your cocktails menu with a few quick and easy Mexican inspired recipes. The Mexican lifestyle wouldn’t be the same without Tequila and Mezcal, the most popular Mexican Spirits. According to Mexicans, tequila dates back over 2000 years and Jose Cuervo was the first to commercialise the product in the 1800s. Tequila is actually a type of mezcal that is made from the agave plant, the blue agave or Agave Tequilana Weber which can only be found in the region of western Mexico around the town of Tequila, Jalisco. Tequila, which has become the national symbol of Mexico, has earned its popularity among partygoers the world over for its ability to get you drunk fast. Although drinking tequila shots is the most popular way to drink it across the globe, there is some debate about the “correct” way to shoot it (which comes first the salt or the lime?), how do the Mexicans do it? Well tequila connoisseurs say that it is a complete waste to shoot a fine tequila or mezcal, and they recommend that it be sipped, either alone or with sangrita, a mixture of tomato, orange juice and lime juice, spiced with chili powder. Alternatively you could combine your tequila with a few other ingredients to conjure up some delicious cocktails.  Here we share the top 5 Mexican Cocktails, which is your favourite?

     

    1.Sangria

    Undoubtedly one of the best and most popular Mexican drinks is Sangria. Especially enjoyable when shared in a group, sangrias are synonymous with fiestas.

     

    Ingredients•1/2 cup sugar •½ cup tequila •1/2 cup lemon juice, fresh •1/2 cup orange juice •1/4 cup orange-flavored liqueur •1 (750 ml) bottle Burgundy wine •1/2 lemon, sliced •1/2 orange, sliced •ice Directions 1.a plastic container (with lid) combine sugar, lemon& orange juices, liqueur and wine; stir. 2.Refrigerate for several hours. 3.Pour into pitcher add lemon and orange slices. 4.Serve over ice

     

    Picture:www.food.com

     

    2. Margaritas

    When you think of margaritas, you think of fun. Try this simple recipe to wow your patrons.

     

    www.food.com
    		 Ingredients •Lime wedge •Coarse •1/4 cup fresh lime juice/1 large lime •1/4 cup silver 100% agave tequila •1/4 cup orange liqueur •1/2 cup ice cubes Directions 1.Rub the rims of 2 martini glasses with a lime wedge, then dip the rims in a dish of course salt. 2.Refrigerate the glasses if desired. 3.In a shaker, combine the lime juice, tequila, and orange liqueur. 4.Add ice and shake 10 to 15 seconds, then strain into the prepared glasses.

     

    3. Tequila Sunrise

    No Mexican Fiesta would be complete without tequila. Try this Tequila Sunrise cocktail.

     

    Ingredients •2 ounces tequila •4 ounces orange juice •3/4 ounce grenadine Directions 1.Place ice cubes in a glass. 2.Pour in tequila and orange juice. 3.Slowly pour in grenadine and allow it to settle at the bottom of the glass before serving. 4.Do not stir. 5.Serve. 4.Rosita The less common, but equally delicious Rosita is made from tequila and Campar

    Photo: www.food.com
    Ingredients•2 oz. reposado or blanco tequila •Juice from 1/2 a lime •Pinch of salt •Grapefruit soda (Jarritos works well) •Ice cubes •Glass: highball •Garnish: lime wheel Directions 1.Pour tequila into a glass 2.Squeeze in the lime juice 3.Add the ice and salt 4.Fill the glass with grapefruit soda 5.Stir and garnish

     

    Photo : imbibemagazine.com

  • Responsible Service of Alcohol Update : Police Chief Advocates Ban On Alcohol Advertising

    Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione has cited the lack of regulation of alcohol purchases as a contributing factor to the stubbornly high volume of domestic violence cases.  The link between bottle store purchases and domestic violence has led the commissioner to advocate among other possibilities, the idea of limiting alcohol advertising on television to after 8:30pm.

     

    A new alcohol policy working group consisting of senior police and bureaucrats will investigate the suggestions by Scipione and the link between alcohol consumerism and domestic violence. Scipione has suggested that high rates of domestic violence can be attributed to the ease of alcohol availability which according to him is especially affecting women and children in the community. He said that while figures for non-domestic violence was declining, the number of domestic violence issues remained stubbornly high which is why the problem needs to be rooted out.

     

    According to TheHerald.com.au:

     

    The group, formed this year, is conducting a comprehensive review of the state’s alcohol licensing system in response to an offer by Premier Barry O’Farrell last year to give police whatever support they need to tackle alcohol-related violence.

     

    The group will also examine venue and outlet density, which it believes is a ‘‘critical issue’’ for alcohol policy in NSW.

     

    In an interview about measures the police are taking to combat alcohol-related violence, Mr Scipione said the numbers of non-domestic violence, alcohol-related assaults have been falling significantly for the past few years.

     

    ‘‘The bit that is not falling as much is the domestic violence, where alcohol is a factor – that’s the frightening bit,’’ Mr Scipione said.

     

    ‘‘Of course, that’s predominantly being fed through takeaway bottle shops. I think it’s worth looking at the impact and necessarily the sort of policy we might need to develop to inform government in this area.’’

     

    NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research data shows that between 2007 and 2011, the average annual rate of alcohol-related domestic violence fell 2.6 per cent. This compared with a 5.3 per cent drop in other alcohol-related assaults.

     

    Mr Scipione said the visible effects of excess drinking on weekends and at major events was the ‘‘tip’’ of the issue, but domestic violence was emerging as the ‘‘iceberg’’ of alcohol policy in NSW.

     

    ‘‘That’s what worries me: when there are incentives given to people to come in and fill up the car [with alcohol] and if you wanted to buy it over the bar you would have severe restrictions,’’ Mr Scipione said.

     

    Source: http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/inquiry-bottle-shops-and-violence-link/2554206.aspx

     

    Fosters and Diageo have criticised suggestions by the News South Wales police commissioner Andrew Scipione to revise alcohol advertising by adding restrictions that prohibit it from appearing on television before 8:30pm.

     

    The Police Commissioner blamed alcohol sellers for the high rate in domestic violence and cited alcohol advertising for contributing to the problem. However members of the alcohol industry have reiterated that their advertising is aimed at adults who have the right to the product knowledge conveyed through advertising.

     

    According to TheShout.com.au:

     

    Ban on alcohol advertising misses the point: Foster’s

    Foster’s and Diageo have both rejected suggestions by the NSW police chief of a ban on alcohol advertising on television before 8.30pm.

     

     In a wide-ranging sermon about alcohol-related harm, NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione today inferred bottle shops were to blame for high rates of domestic violence.

     

    Alcohol advertising was also on his radar, with the police chief quoting a national poll conducted for the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation, published last month, which showed 69 per cent of adults supported a ban on alcohol advertising on television before 8.30pm.

     

    But Foster’s spokesman Jeremy Griffith told TheShout that advertising “drives brand choice not consumption”.

     

    “The fact that alcohol consumption per person has been either declining or flat-lining for 30-plus years, despite millions of dollars spent in advertising, highlights this point,” he said.

     

    “Our per capita consumption now sits at around 20 per cent below its peak (reached in the 70’s) and continues to fall,” Griffith said.

     

    A Diageo spokesperson said consumers have every right to have brand and product information communicated to them.

     

    “All our products are aimed at adults, and therefore all our advertising is aimed at adult audiences. Not only is this sound marketing, it is also part of our ongoing commitment to responsible drinking in our community.” 

     

    Source:http://www.theshout.com.au/2012/05/14/article/Ban-on-alcohol-advertising-misses-the-point-Fosters/CFFWFKFMXJ.html