BARTENDER THEFT:
Bartender Summary
· Bartender: Female, 5’5”, Caucasian, in her twenties, with an average build and long, brown hair worn in a ponytail. She wore a v-neck tee shirt.
The guest volume was minimal at the bar throughout the visit, and the agent observed Bartender from afar.
A female bar patron with long blond hair sat at the left end of the bar throughout most of the visit. She appeared to be a liquor rep or known to the staff in some way. She carried a bag from which she drew three colorful bottles of what appeared to be tequila. Throughout the visit, she had the bottles on the bar and poured shots from them that either she drank, or she gave to the staff and other guests to sample.
Several times, Bartender presented the patron with bottles from behind the bar. At around 7:43pm, the patron poured from one such bottle—the agent believed to be Cointreau—while seated at the bar, and returned the bottle to Bartender to replace behind the bar.
This pour did not appear to be recorded nor added to a tab anywhere and therefore is a bartender theft occurrence, and Bartender sipped from the resulting drink.
Bartender continued to drink alcoholic beverages throughout the visit, in violation of Arizona Liquor Laws. From the Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 4, Chapter 3, which governs the Arizona Department of Liquor Licensing and Control:
4-244. Unlawful acts
12. For a licensee, when engaged in waiting on or serving customers, to consume spirituous liquor or for a licensee or on-duty employee to be on or about the licensed premises while in an intoxicated or disorderly condition.
At 8:13pm, Bartender took a drink from another shot glass. At 8:31pm, she drank again, and took a glass still more than half full with an orange mixture and placed in low behind the bar, quite obviously to drink later.
At 8:33pm, she was observed to take another drink.
With respect to other bar guests, Bartender appeared to follow proper procedures. She rang in and cashed out items immediately and properly. She also delivered establishment-standard pours and followed proper service bar procedures.
Bartender used her down time behind the bar to polish glassware. She also went out from behind the bar to wait on high-top tables across from the bar.
The aforementioned blond patron was presented with a tab prior to her departure. The agent believes she had eaten dinner, as well as been drinking. She departed with at least three open liquor bottles.
Also from the Arizona Revised Statutes:
4-244. Unlawful acts
31. For a licensee or employee to knowingly permit spirituous liquor to be removed from the licensed premises, except in the original unbroken package. This paragraph shall not apply to a person who removes a bottle of wine which has been partially consumed in conjunction with a purchased meal from the licensed premises if the cork is reinserted flush with the top of the bottle.
Bartender observed the agent and his associate as they departed the establishment, smiling and thanking them.
Even were the patron a liquor representative, her actions during the visit should be cause for concern for the establishment. Aside from being in violation of Arizona Liquor Laws and contributing to the violation thereof by staff members, the activities created a risky and unprofessional environment.
Michael Zenner – CEO
Hospitality Checkpoint
hospitalitycheckpoint.com
bartheft.com (blog)
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