How To Cut Bar Inventory Losses 20%

precision poursWe’ve all been there.  The bartender is super busy and splashes some alcohol in your glass before topping it off with whatever mixer goes with your drink – and you end up with a strong one or a weak one.  And of course flirty girls and good tippers regularly expect – and get – a good pour on their refills.

The problem is, inconsistent drink pouring can account for as much as 20% in lost revenue for a busy bar or restaurant.  Drink taste can also vary widely with different amounts of liquor, which means mixed drinks have to be one of the most inconsistent products you sell in your establishment.

No one would tolerate such variation on a prime, high margin entrée, and increasingly bar managers are using technology to gain control of their liquor inventory.  Precision Pour spouts measure exactly how much alcohol is poured in each drink using a 3-ball measuring system that is both accurate and smooth.  The result is the  elimination of over and under pouring.

In addition to putting an absolute clampdown on waste and theft, Precision Pour spouts allow bartenders a chance to upsell stronger drinks for customers.  Since bartenders don’t have the option to pour drinks stronger or weaker, customers wanting a stiffer drink can purchase a double instead of just plunking a couple extra bucks in the tip jar and getting a nod from the bartender.

Competition has always been tight in the bar and nightclub scene, and profit margins can be thin, so many owners perk up when they hear about ways to cut costs and generate more upsells.  But taking care of good customers is something anyone who wants to succeed in the restaurant industry had better excel at.  The tradeoff with more control is reduced intimacy with customers because everyone gets the same pour, no matter if you’ve been coming to that bar for years or tonight is your first time.Precision Pour Spout

The flip side of that argument is that stronger drinks also mean drinks that don’t taste as good.  The hottest trends in the industry are all pointing towards craft cocktails that give the consumer a taste that’s at least as good as the buzz.  That makes precise alcohol pours even more important if you want to address the customer’s new expectations when it comes to taste.

That makes Precision Pour spouts a good investment from and inventory control and a quality control point of view.  The Precision Pour can fit in almost any liquor bottle, is easy to clean, and can handle even the thickest liqueur.  You can get Precision Pour spouts that dispense various amounts of alcohol, measured in ounces and milliliters, and even color code the spouts to make it easier for bartenders to find bottles during the rush.

Simply put, you’re losing money and negatively affecting quality if you don’t accurately measure the amount of alcohol in each drink you serve.  The Precision Pour spout is a great way to knock out both those birds with one stone.

About Greg McGuire

Greg has blogged about the food service industry for years and has been published in industry magazines, like Independent Restaurateur and industry blogs like Restaurant SmartBrief. He lives in Colorado with his wife and two sons and enjoys reading, live music, and the great outdoors.

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