Bartending

Bartenders are certified professional who work at establishments, filling drink orders directly from persons sitting at a bar, or vicariously through waiters and waitresses from patrons seated at tables. Bartenders have two main responsibilities. They first professionally card, or check identification of patrons ordering alcoholic drinks, and second create a wide variety of different drinks. In general, bartenders serve bottled and draught beer, prepare mixed drinks, and serve wine or shots of hard alcohol. Bartenders must have a comprehensive knowledge of a large assortment of mixed drinks and cocktails, and be able to create specific drinks from memory upon order, preparing the proper garnishes for the drinks, such as mint leaves and olives, while always maintaining a good supply of ice, clean glassware, and any other bar supplies. They also are usually called upon to take payments from customers and to operate the cash register, serve food to customers from the kitchen, and sometimes to entertain and talk with customers.