Alcohol Service Practices: A Survey of Bar and Restaurant Managers

Excessive alcohol consumption can result from illegal sales to intoxicated patrons at bars and restaurants. We surveyed bar/restaurant managers about their practices in reducing illegal sales to intoxicated patrons. We found that managers were confident that they could refuse service to intoxicated customers but were less likely to have communicated necessary information to their staff on how to refuse such sales. Managers who agreed that a business in their community would be cited for overservice were more likely to be confident that they could handle customers who had been cut off from alcohol service. Our study suggests that bar/restaurant managers may need training to improve their communication with staff and that increased enforcement may lead to an increase in manager confidence in handling intoxicated patrons.