I
wrote a blog last year (5/26/06) about observing a bartender in Baltimore
ripping off the house by short-pouring liquor. I bemoaned having had to watch
the theft and lamented that it happens to me a lot. In that piece I apparently
gave Donald T. the impression that I was accusing all bartender of being
thieves.
In
a recent email Mr. T. expressed his concerns in no uncertain terms. "Robert
Plotkin! I can't believe you are such a piece of crap. I have been a Bar Man for over 10 years
and you laid such a BULLSHIT BLANKET STATEMENT AGAINST ALL BARTENDERS
SHORTPOURING AND THEN STEALING MONEY!
I have seen your face, if you do not retract that crap, next time I see
you it will be a bottle of Pimm's over your F***ing Head! Loser! What the f*** have you ever done?????? Bartenders abroad do not deserve
that......retract nationally.
BTW.....How do you like your Side Car?" --Donald T.
I
would think that a barman with over 10 years experience would freely
acknowledge the reality of the situation. This is indeed an industry beset by
employee theft issues. That's not a blanket condemnation; that's a quantifiable
statement. Bevinco is an international beverage auditing service and they place
losses due to "shrinkage" at about 24-26% of gross sales. Draft beer losses run
about 20%. Left unchecked internal theft can drain a business dry.
For
the record, and to save myself from a potentially nasty beating, I don't
believe all bartenders steal. Having worked one side of the stick or the other
for over 25 years, I would like to add for the record that some do.
Let
me explain something, Mr. T. I think bartender theft is largely attributable to
a flawed business model, rather than their (our) lack of ethics. Here's the
flaw with the business model: bartenders take drink orders, prepare and serve
the products, and collect the sales proceeds before any information regarding
the transaction is entered into the register or point of sales system. There's
nearly always a moment when money is in bartenders' hands and the funds are
unaccounted for. That's when things often go astray.
Certainly
Mr. T. you must agree that there are a ton of ways to rip off a bar,
short-pouring being only one of many scams. In my 35-year career I have met
many bar owners who have experienced theft firsthand. The best prevention is
comprehensive policies and cash-handling procedures in place to help keep the
honest bartenders honest.
So
to repeat, Mr. T., not all bartenders steal. And if you do get an opportunity
to hit me on the head with a bottle of Pimm's, please make sure it's empty
because the stuff is too good to waste.
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