1) Is there an age limit for going to bartending classes?

Being brought up behind the bar, I started work at the legal age – which is now much higher. It was always imagined as a young person’s job. My mother and father preferred the older bar manager and only ever had one stupendous young barmaid. She was from quite some way away and she lived with us.

My friends have recently given up their bar in London to try a country location and said that they had one or two bartenders who were unofficially retired from their main job and loved working behind the bar. The young bar staff also seemed to like the mix.

One bartending school in Cincinnati had a student who was 74. He was intending to tend bar in Florida where he spent the cold winter months.

2) What sort of thing will I learn, I can’t even pour a glass of beer?

Bartending classes teach correct bartending techniques and procedures. There are thousands of mixer recipes but there are only so many that are normally ordered. You will be taught these.

You will learn about the viscosity of spirits – allowing you to make those wonderful layered drinks. Wine and champagnes will also be taught.

To me the most important thing that you will learn will be the root of customer service. The smile is worth a tip any day.

On a serious note you will cover the legalities and liabilities of bartending.

3) Do I need a Bartending “Certificate” or “License” to bartend?

This seems to be one of those urban legends. There is no law that requires you to have a license or any form of certificate to bartend.

Some states and provinces require all staff that handle alcohol to have an ‘alcohol awareness certificate’. This is issued by the government in your area.

4) What happens if I am asked for something and I cannot remember how to prepare it?

Most good bars have books with the most regularly asked for drinks detailed. If you and your other workers have never heard of the drink, the customer will explain it to you. Imagine how they will feel when they realise that they have ‘one up’ on a bartender. Write it down – that can be a special on another night. If the person who gave you the recipe walks in – give him one on the house.

5) What is the point of attending classes?

The point is that bars are always short of workers but they are never so short that they will offer a good shift to someone who does not know what they are doing.

Getting a good shift is the difference between a good shift pay and some good shift tips. It is possible or a GOOD bartender to make $400 to $900 for a 30 to 40 hour week (from figures in Cincinnati).

6) I want to attend bartending classes but I can’t afford the big schools?

You can do classes via the Internet. There are various schools that have lessons equivalent in quality to the classes they give in their classrooms. You also have the opportunity to go through things again in the comfort of your home if it does not quite work the first time.

Bartending Classes are the way to be able to walk into a job and know what you are doing.