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  • Responsible Service of Alcohol Update : NSW Laws Expand Pubs Trading

    Online RSA NSW Course recently approved by OLGR NSW!

     

    Available here for only $139 including the $70 OLGR Photocard fee.

    >> Click here for NSW RSA Course online. << According to new legislation in NSW, pubs can now expand trading of non-liquor services after liquor trading hours. The new law came into effect as of 30 March 2012. According to new law pubs and hotel operators can now trade food, entertainment, gambling and other services, even after they have stopped trading liquor.  The new legislation also enables hotels to provide breakfast and other non-gambling services without selling liquor. According to TheShout.com.au:

    NSW pubs have expanded powers for trading under new liquor and gaming laws that recently came into effect. The Clubs, Liquor, and Gaming Machines Legislation Amendment Act 2011 contained a range of reforms, including allowing hoteliers to cease liquor operations during approved trading hours but continue to provide other services. Effective from March 30, food service, entertainment, gambling activities, conferences and non-alcoholic beverages can now be offered without regular liquor trading. The amendment aims to de-couple liquor and gaming, in an attempt to address concerns about players gambling whilst intoxicated.

    Source:http://www.theshout.com.au/2012/04/23/article/Pubs-open-bars-closed-NSW-overhaul/JBUFWLKXCU.html

    The new law aims to separate the service of alcohol from other services such as gambling and also aims to increase the financial profitability of extended hours trading of services. According to The NSW Government  : Office of Liquor, Gambling and Racing:

    A new regulatory framework specifically provides for amalgamated registered clubs to de-amalgamate, or separate, while ensuring the financial viability of the de-amalgamating club is maintained, as well as a high level of transparency for club members.

    Source:http://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/clubs_liquor_gaming_machine.asp

    While the new reforms allow for hoteliers to trade during hours when alcohol is not allowed to be served, it does not allow them to cease trading alcohol during the standard trading periods. The NSW Government goes on to state:

    Hoteliers can now trade at certain times of the day without the need to sell liquor, while providing other goods and services such as non-alcoholic beverages, food, entertainment, conference facilities, and in certain circumstances, gambling activities.Reforms to the primary purpose test in the Liquor Act 2007 now provide an exemption to the requirement that hoteliers must sell and supply liquor by retail at all times. Hoteliers can diversify their operations without the need for liquor to be available at all times. For example, hoteliers can offer a breakfast service and/or use of facilities for meetings and conferences in the morning without the need to operate a bar supplying alcohol. However, hoteliers cannot cease serving liquor while any type of gambling activity is available during the standard trading period (ie. 5am – midnight Monday to Saturday and 10am – 10pm Sunday) unless approval has been obtained from the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority. When considering an application, the Authority must be satisfied that the operation of gaming machines will not detract unduly from the character of the hotel. It must also be satisfied that gambling activities will be conducted in a responsible manner. The reforms also allow hotels to cease selling liquor and continue to provide other services, including gambling activities, during extended trading periods that have been approved under the liquor laws. Approval from the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority is not required for liquor sales to cease during approved extended trading periods. Extended trading periods generally commence after midnight Monday to Saturday, and after 10pm on Sundays. As well as allowing hoteliers to reduce costs and diversify their operations, the reforms can help to reduce reliance on liquor sales, particularly where there are concerns about patrons gambling under the influence of alcohol.

    Source:http://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/clubs_liquor_gaming_machine.asp

    In addition to separating the services of gambling and liquor consumption from each other, because one is normally associated with the other, the new law aims to increase profits of businesses because now they can remain open and trade even after midnight when they cease to serve alcohol. The Government also aims to address concerns of people gambling while drunk, which in itself can lead to various other social problems. New laws also place greater responsibility on training providers and carry heavy fines for providers who do not abide by the regulatory framework provided for RSA and RCG training. A fine of $11 000 will be applied for training providers who do not conduct their activities as provisioned by regulations. According to NSW Government Site:

    Training providers are now subject to significant new penalties of up to $11,000 for fraudulent activities relating to the provision of responsible service of alcohol (RSA) or responsible conduct of gambling (RCG) training. The new offences strengthen the regulatory framework for RSA and RCG training in NSW, following an Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry that identified fraudulent and corrupt activity in this, and other, training sectors. Approved training providers now face penalties of up to $11,000 for breaching conditions of approval, or if they issue an interim certificate to a person who has not successfully completed an approved course. These new penalties also apply to non-approved persons who offer to provide training or imply that they are qualified to offer approved RSA or RCG training.

    Source:http://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/clubs_liquor_gaming_machine.asp

    New legislature also has amendments for Hotel Gaming machine Thresholds, which government hopes will ease hotels permit transfer process. According to the NSW Government Site:

    A hotel’s gaming machine threshold now decreases when transferring poker machine permits from the hotel. Changes to the Gaming Machines Act 2001 better aligns poker machine permit trading with gaming machine entitlement trading.

    Source:http://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/clubs_liquor_gaming_machine.asp

     

  • A Few Reviews of Beer!

    Beer is an interesting alcohol, it is highly subject to taste in the sense that some people love it and others hate it with a passion. But for all those who do actually like beer, it can be a picky process when you are choosing what to pick up from the liquor store, and you have probably worked out what beer you like the best. But it can never hurt to try out some other new beers that might end up being your favorite. Check out this blog post below that was on a site called “A Night With The Hops.” It describes a beer called the Samuel Adams White Water IPA. This beer is unique and tastes a little different, but it still gives a delicious taste, so give it a try!

    As much as I may try to ensure that a solid variety of styles are in my house a good punch of hops is something that very often is what my palate wants. So when it comes to grabbing a six-pack and IPA very often finds a way home with me. The two of these I drank were in the Brewer’s Choice Variety 12-pack with a few other good ones, but I look forward to when it will be available on its own sometime in the coming months.A solid addition to their beer family . . .

    Brewery: Boston Beer Company (Boston, MA)

    Name: Whitewater IPA

    Style: American IPA (though probably a Specialty Beer)

    ABV: 5.80% (on bottle)

    Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge before serving in a pint glass.

    Aroma: A nice hoppy aroma with citrus and pine and a slight, mildly fruity sweetness.  Full, but not overwhelming. – 9/12

    Appearance: Golden honey-like color with a slight orange hue.  Two finger frothy/creamy white head that holds very well and leaves nice lacing on the glass.  Some haziness but pretty clear with rising bubbles visible. – 3/3

    Flavor: A really nice citrusy hop flavor up front with a moderate hit of piney bitterness after that.  Well balanced with a touch of fruity sweetness in there as well.  Seems to have a touch of spiciness.  Finishes a bit dry dry, but with a nice lingering bitterness and some citrus flavor. – 15.5/20

    Mouthfeel: Medium to light in body with a moderate level of carbonation.  Pretty smooth with a nice creaminess that adds a little to the body. – 4.5/5

    Overall Impressions: I like the bit of creaminess in the body and it is a nice addition to what is otherwise a solid IPA.  The bitterness and citrus profile is quite nice.  Goes down very easily and could definitely drink more than a few.  A solid beer and tasty IPA that I will probably grab a six-pack of when it comes out. – 8/10

    Overall: A- (40/50)

    Samuel Adams – Whitewater IPA”

    So basically this blog, which can be found here (or here: http://nighthops.com/) explains that beer lovers should be going out and trying a new beer every time they have a casual one. This means that you are expanding your taste, and even though you might think you love your classic beers like Tooheys or XXXX Bitters, the world of premium lager has a lot more to offer. This is especially important if you are planning on completing the Queensland RSA Course (or any states course) and starting work in a liquor serving establishment! For more information on beer and the news to do with it, check out this blog post that was also on a night with the hops’ blog.

    “The last bit of beer news for January . . .

    This particular blog post has a lot of links in it which go to interesting websites about alcohol related news. I would recommend that you get online and check out these kinds of posts more often simply because they describe the world of beer so vividly. This article, like the last one was sourced from “A Night With The Hops.” But do remember to always drink responsible as the Responsible Service Of Alcohol Training teaches you!

     

  • When I Get My RSA Certificate Where Should I Work? and Should I Serve Food?

    Before you get to work in a bar and decide whether you want to serve food or not, you need to complete the RSA Training Course and get your QLD RSA Certificate, or any states certificate. There may be several questions you will be asking yourself when completing the RSA Course online, and one may be what exactly you want to do with the RSA Certificate. The fact of the matter is that there are several things you can do with the certificate, and they are all fairly rewarding. Check out the list below of places you can work, and use the information on the work environment to decide if you really want to be working there.

    At The Bottle – O. After getting your RSA Certificate

    The bottle-o, or bottle shop/liquor retailer is the first place that you can work once you get the RSA Certificate, and working at these shops means that you don’t so much have to be involved in an atmosphere or watch how much people drink. But you do have to be able to look for people who are underage, using a fake ID, or are buying alcohol for other people who are underage. So if you would like to get into the industry and learn all the different types of beer/drinks, without getting into a full on bar/club atmosphere, then this may be the place for you.

    At a Bar – with your RSA Certificate

    A bar usually goes with an atmosphere that is either full on, or laid back; and some you will find are in between. So this can be a perfect place for you to work, as you can choose the kind of atmosphere you would like to work in. But be cautious, jobs don’t grow on trees so working in the bar industry often means that you don’t have a lot of choice when it comes to the bar you want to work in!

    At a Club – with your RSA Certificate

    A club can be one of the harder places to work in with the RSA Certificate, as it is harder to tell who has been drinking too much and often requires some practice. In addition, clubs have some long hours and can mean a tiring work environment. On the other hand they are fun and social, so if this is your element, then start applying for jobs in this industry!

    So Should I Be Serving Food in My Bar?

    It may not seem like too big of a question to ask, a bar either serves food or it doesn’t, right? Well you will learn in the RSA Course that food can often be a good thing to help keep people sober, as it soaks up the alcohol in your stomach and helps keep you sober…ish. While you may think that serving food is not really a choice that is up to you as a staff member, but it is often the suggestions of the staff that get implemented by management. This is because you on the forefront of the business know how it works best!

    So How Do I Know If I Need To Serve Food?

    The first thing you will want to look at is what time your bar/club opens or closes on a regular basis, and more importantly, what time do most people come in to start drinking? By looking at these factors you can tell whether you will need to serve food or not. If you find that people are mostly coming in early and getting way too drunk, then this might simply be because they do not have enough food in them to allow them to get appropriately drunk. They may think that they can have a few drinks and be okay, but they do not consider that they have not eaten. In this sense, you have to consider it, and be aware of just how much they are REALLY drinking and being affected by. Another reason that you may want to serve food is that serving food can mean that you can relatively keep people sober when they need to be. If you see someone is far too drunk, then you can encourage them to have some food and water to sober them up. As the RSA Certificate course teaches you to look for signs they are too drunk, and then use a few ways to sober them up or send them home. So serving food can be a good medium for people that don’t want to go home and don’t want to stop drinking.

    Grab Your RSA Certificate Today!

    By going online and completing the RSA Certificate course, you are allowing yourself to serve responsibly at a bar/club/restaurant or even a liquor store. This means you know techniques of how to keep people relatively sober and having a good time. So get started today!

     

  • How NOT to Act in a Bar!

    There are a lot of things that you should not be doing in a bar, but hey, it’s hard to control yourself when you have had a bit too much isn’t it. The RSA Course works to prevent this kind of behavior, but in case this is you, make sure you work on preventing this type of behavior! The video below is a bit long so you might want to skip to around 1 min to speed things up.

    Being a bar tender, there are some actions that you can help stop and others that you can’t. Like you can stop someone getting too drunk and causing violence or harm (taught in the Responsible Service of Alcohol QLD Course, or any state), but you can’t stop people doing some stupid things at their own fault!

     

  • Children and Alcohol Advertising

    There has been a growing debate for some time now on whether or not alcohol advertising should be allowed, because people believe that it targets children and encourages them to drink at an under age level. Of course though, this is not possible at any public venue since all servers have their RSA certificate and have completed their RSA course, so they know not to serve minors. So really the parents have to buy the alcohol for the children anyway. But this debate goes on, and if you would like some more information about it, just check out this news article that explores the debate. <- Fiona Stanley – Underage Drinking Watchdog

     

  • Scotch: The Whole Perspective

    As we all know, we are in Autumn and are moving ever so close to Winter. You know what this means…Scotch drinking weather (apparently). The article that was published on ‘Sloshed.com’ below, describes ideal scotch weather as “Frosty nights, windy days, with an austere crispness in the air.” But as we approach these seasons, it is important to know your drink. Especially if you work in a more laid back bar (with your RSA Certificate) where scotch is the ‘smooth, man’s drink.’ Check out this article on the different Scotch recommendations.

    “Glen Garioch Founder’s Reserve (about 40 dollars): This is a non-peaty Highland Scotch from one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries, Glen Garioch (pronounced ‘geery’). Now owned by Japan’s Suntory corporation, this whisky curiously exhibits the characteristic dry maltiness of Yamizaki, Suntory’s flagship whisky. At a hefty 48% ABV, it’s a bruiser too, so a little water or ice might be a good idea to soften the edges. It’s a little hot for my taste, and more peat would be welcome (there’s no such thing as too much in my book), but this is a decent, well-rounded Highland at a nice price.

    Glen Garioch 12 (about 60 dollars): As big as the Founder’s is, the 12-year-old is its meaner, hairier brother who probably drives a Camaro, or maybe an Iroc-Z. This whiskey is very hot (it’s also 48%), but also exhibits some strange taste components: oddly, I keep thinking of marshmallows, and there’s a weird chemical flavor here too, maybe something like methanol would taste if you could drink it without dying. This sounds unpleasant, and it is a little, but there’s still a nice woodsy character and a surprising complexity here, if you’re willing to stick it out.

    Auchentoshan Three Wood (about 60 dollars): A Lowland favorite that is aged in bourbon barrels before before being finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. It’s a syrupy, swaggering, and fruity whisky with a pungent finish. It’s got just enough smoke to keep masochists like me happy, but retains enough of a softer character to please everyone else happy too. Definitely worth a try.

    Auchentoshan 12 (about 40 dollars): As I’ve stated before, I detest the word ‘smooth’ as an adjective to describe liquor, but sadly, it was the first one to come to mind when I tried this. This means I need to try harder, so here it is: the 12-year is not too fruity, not too smoky, and very easy to drink—in other words, it’s boring. Maybe a little disappointing following the magnificent Three Wood, but it may be just the ticket for the less adventurous drinker in your life, poor souls they may be.

    Bowmore 12 (about 40 dollars): From one of the most well known Islay distilleries in the world, this is their entry level whisky, and for the most part, it’s a good one. There’s the grassy, succulent mid-palate, the honeyed citrus notes, and the mildly peaty finish, but there’s not a hell of a lot else. It’s a nice and easy Islay; simple, but there’s nothing really wrong with that, is there? (Ed. note: Marleigh prefers the flavor of whisky to that of peat smoke, and the Bowmore 12 was her favorite. If you’re not a peat monster or you just like a nicely balanced Scotch, try this one.)

    Bowmore 15 (about 70 dollars): Of all the whiskys featured here, this was by far my favorite (and unfortunately the most expensive). This is a well-balanced, smokey Islay, and while a tiny bit more brine and peat (I’m looking at you Lagavulin, and I’d start running were I you) would be good, it still delivers on all fronts. The sherry cask comes through nicely on this, as do heavy notes of fig, honey, and grass. If you can swing it, and are looking for a stunning whisky that will floor all your friends, this is a good bet that is easy to find.” Sourced From: www.Sloshed.com This article came from ‘Sloshed.com‘ and describes the different kinds of Scotch rather well if i may say so myself. You should note, though, that this is only one opinion and there are also a lot of other Scotch brands out there to choose from.

    To summarize the article though: Glen Garioch Founder’s Reserve is well rounded and strong (also cheap) Glen Garioch 12 is Glen Garioch Founder’s Reserve, but a lot stronger. Auchentoshan Three Wood is a gentleman’s drink: syrupy, softer. Worth a taste. Auchentoshan 12 is boring, but smooth. Something for a non-adventurous drinker. Bowmore 12 has nothing wrong with it…but it’s net exactly…interesting…(It’s standard!) Bowmore 15 delivers on all fronts, it’s great (apparently) but it looks expensive… If you are planning to become a Scotch expert and know your liquor, then you should also know how to drink it. Perhaps no video is better than the one below on how to order and drink Scotch. Like a pro…

    This next article comes from ‘Thedrinksreport.com’ and describes the dilemma we faced a while ago about labeling Scotch as brewed in Scotland, when it was actually not. Essentially, people wanted to bring back the class to Scottish Scotch. This all happened in 2009, but it’s interesting to note that now you know if what you are drinking is Scottish…or not. Big difference, right? To some it is.

    “The regulations, that come into force on 23 November, mean:

    • Compulsory use of category descriptions, such as ‘Blended Scotch Whisky’, will ensure consumers receive clear, consistent and accurate information;

    • New presentation rules provide a unique opportunity to promote understanding of every category of Scotch Whisky, Single and Blended, to consumers;

    • Additional protection for Scotch Whisky from unfair competition and deceptive practices, establishing a robust and comprehensive legal framework;

    • New rules to require the bottling of Single Malt Scotch Whisky in Scotland will protect this growing category;

    • New protection for the traditional regional names associated with Scotch Whisky production and clear rules on product age statements;

    • Introduction of a strong enforcement mechanism, with HM Revenue & Customs designated as the Scotch Whisky verification authority;

    • Use of the word ‘Pure’ which is to be banned as it has led to confusion as ‘Pure Malt’ may come across as being superior whereas the term is used to disguise the fact that the product is a blend of malts rather than a Single Malt;

    • There is also to be tightening up of the use of distillery and regional names:

    • These regulations will also serve to protect consumers as well as the industry through consolidation of the legal framework.”

    This article was sourced from: http://www.thedrinksreport.com/full.articles/business.folder/full.1109_SWA_New_Regs.html

    Or: The Drinks Report Online This is not really something that would effect someone who merely serves alcohol with the RSA Course Online Certificate, unless you had really picky customers. Either way, now you know two things – the different kinds of Scotch that there are (well, some) and that you can now tell if your drinking Scotch that was really from Scotland, or not!

     

  • Working Private Events With Portable Bars

    Portable bars are actually a large part of the industry and are needed for private events such as weddings or get-togethers that people may be having. So to get into the portable bar industry, you need to first complete the RSA Course, and check out this video to pick your perfect portable bar!

    This kind of work still requires you to be safe and serve responsibly, so get online and complete the RSA Course for further information on how to do this!

     

  • Naming and Shaming Alcohol Ads

    The government is thinking about instituting new groups to name and shame alcohol ads they believe are inducing underage drinking. This means that there will be less underage drinking. However, as a bar tender you should be able to tell if someone is underage, and it teaches you how to in the RSA Course. This will ensure that you are not subject to any fines for serving underage patrons, which is always a huge benefit.

    This is the kind of news that you should keep up with when working in a bar or restaurant, so get your RSA certificate today, and you will be able to work in any bar or restaurant around Australia. The process is fast and straightforward, so that you can get back to work ASAP!

     

     

  • Alcohol Fueled Violence Statistics – Get Your RSA Certificate To Help Stop Them

    There are an increasing amount of alcohol fueled violent attacks that are occurring each year, and they are getting more and more dangerous, which is why you need to go online and grab your rsa certificate, to stop this kind of violence. It was reported in Sydney that for every liquor retailer that opened, there would be another 4-5 annual alcohol fueled violence attacks. This is a very alarming statistic and shows just how dangerous people can be under the influence of alcohol, and when they cannot control their actions. The RSA Certificate course fights this kind of aggression by training the sources of alcohol (bartenders, liquor stores salesmen and restaurant workers) to deal with this kind of aggression by not serving people who look like they have already had too much to drink. This means that you have to be able to look  out for signs in people that show they have been drinking too much, and when you spot some of these signs, you need to have the audacity to say ‘no’ and not serve them, otherwise they could just end up being another statistic.

    How Do I Say No? The RSA Certificate Course Teaches You How

    The RSA course online teaches you to deal with all kinds of people, and in a shorter time than any other course, while still being as efficient and straightforward as the other courses. The online course that can be completed at any time tells you how to say no to people. The basics of it are pretty simple though, you always stay calm (NEVER lose your cool), you be polite in all cases, you never try arguing with a drunk, and you stick to your position in not serving someone who has had too much to drink. Don’t let them push you around.

    RSA Certificate Course – Is The Necessity Really There?  

    Yes, the short answer is, yes. You NEED to be able to say no, for so many reasons. If you allow someone to drink too much, they could: Pass out in a dangerous location and be robbed, Overdose on alcohol and require a stomach pump, Attempt to drive home in a drunken state, Start fights with people, Cause public destruction and violence. These are only some of the reasons that you need to control how much people drink, and there are many more reasons that you might see if working in a club or bar. Remember that you are 25 times more likely to be involved in an altercation or fight, if you are within twenty meters of a liquor outlet. Either way, the safest route to take is to complete the RSA Course online, as it will allow you to serve safely and responsibly, in any situation! So get online and grab your RSA Certificate today.

     

  • The Spill Proof Beer

    Yes i know that there is really no such thing as the spill proof beer, but this ad by Hahn makes it seem so realistic, check it out below.

    If only something like this really existed! But still, it is true that alcohol is really easy to spill in a busy bar, but it is more than often spilled by those who have had a bit too much. This is one of the signs that the RSA Course teaches you to deal with!