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What do I need to become a Bartender?

do I need a license to mix drinks or sever

career chef culinary restaurants bartending licensing mixology bartender
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Greg’s Answer

Some locations vary on the requirements to be a bartender. Most require a certificate of safe serving and health code proceedures.
The best way to start is as a server or barback to get the feel of it. Recipes are quickly learned. But the skill is in personality.

Greg recommends the following next steps:

Get a job as a barback or server
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Hassan’s Answer

1st, you'll need training on how to make drinks. You could experiment at home and watch video or pay for Bartending School which would have job placement.

Unless, you'll be working in a busy club, the interpersonal skills will be important. You'll need to engage with customers and keep them coming back. To me that's the harder skill but it maybe easy for you.

in CA, you'll also need to complete Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) Training and pass an exam. This should be the easiest part and can be done online.
Thank you comment icon Thank you, Hassan for the advice. Gabriel
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Sylvia’s Answer

Hi,
Absolutely, you'll need a license to serve from you local ABLE commission. To receive the license there is a test that includes the rules of age, how alcohol effects individuals based on body weight, how to know if a patron is intoxicated and the rules of cutting the patron off.
You can actually teach yourself the recipes of making drinks. There are YT channels just for that.
Personality/ customer service is the #1 skill to have.
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James’s Answer

Embarking on a career as a bartender can be as simple as starting from a humble position within the restaurant industry. This is a great way to dip your toes in the water and get a feel for the environment. I began my journey as a busboy/dishwasher, always with the goal of advancing and exploring different roles, which I eventually did. The key is to work diligently and demonstrate your commitment to learning. Show your eagerness to evolve and expand your skills. There's no need for college, culinary school, or mixology school. Most of my knowledge was gained hands-on, learning as I progressed. Sure, you'll stumble and make mistakes, but these are the moments where you'll learn and grow the most. You'll need to secure your Liquor License for whichever state you're in and intend to work in, typically along with a food handler's card. The exams are incredibly straightforward. There are even free practice tests available online to help you prepare. Wishing you all the best! Remember, anyone with determination and passion can achieve this.
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Autumn’s Answer

Just like others have pointed out, your location plays a big role, so you might need to do a bit of digging about your state or county to get the right information. Companies often have their own training programs and might even help you get the certifications you need. A lot of bartenders actually start their journey as servers or barbacks, gradually climbing the ladder to become bartenders. This gives you plenty of time to get to know the menu or the products, which can be a fantastic first step towards understanding how things work behind the bar. There are loads of opportunities in restaurants or the food service industry that are willing to give a shot to someone who's eager and motivated, and they'll help you learn! If you've got the other necessary skills like customer service, people skills, and responsibility, then you're already off to a great start.
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