Category: Alcohol Awareness

Join us! TAM of Nevada to Participate in Officers Down 5K Event and Community Day

Published on by TAM of Nevada2 Comments

5k eventTAM® of Nevada has been a part of the Las Vegas community for over two decades. We are proud to offer an important service to local residents and businesses. Additionally, we are always happy to get involved with community events to promote safety. We are very happy to announce that TAM® of Nevada will be sponsoring the Officers Down 5K Event and Community Day in Las Vegas on Sunday, June 12th.

The OD5K-Las Vegas will benefit OfficerDown.US, which gives people a means by which to serve those who have made it their career to serve. This event recognizes officers who put their lives on the line daily to keep our communities safe, and to honor those who have fallen in the line of duty. While officers give to the community on a daily basis, it is now our time to give back.

If you’ll be attending this fantastic event, TAM® Manager Sherry Cummings and additional TAM® Staff members will be on site and participating. Please stop by and say hello! Hearing directly from frontline emergency responders and police about what issues our community is facing helps us to provide the best alcohol awareness course possible for our students, with insight on what issues to be extra vigilant about. Let’s help honor and support those officers and the work that they do!

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, June 12th. To learn more about the services we offer, visit our website, or visit with us at the event. The event will include lunch, live music, activities, and much more, and we’d love to chat! Also be sure to stay up to date about this and other activities and events TAM® of Nevada will be attending by connecting with us on Facebook.

Event Details:

For more information, visit the Officer Down 5K website.

2601 East Sunset Road

Las Vegas, NV US 89120

  • Registration & Check-in 6:30am-7:45am
  • 5K Run/Walk 8am
  • Kids Fun Run 9am
  • Community Day 9am-1pm

Top Tips for Hosting a Successful Cinco de Mayo Celebration

Published on by TAM of NevadaLeave a comment

dreamstime_m_6947265Las Vegas is a city that knows how to celebrate. Establishments all across town are currently promoting Cinco de Mayo special events, and in some cases, turning it into a long weekend promotional opportunity. Is your establishment prepared to make the most of the increase in bar traffic? It’s not too late to plan an activity sure to increase sales and customer buzz.

While marked regionally in Mexico to commemorate the Battle of Puebla, Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) is a traditionally observed in the United States as a day of celebration of Mexican culture. It is a popular party night not only Mexican restaurants, but all types of bars and clubs. Much like events on St. Patrick’s Day and Valentine’s Day, marketers and business owners have upped the ante on holiday promotions in recent years.  Here are some tips to get in on the action:

  1. Special events such as Cinco de Mayo are a great opportunity to try special menu items, live music, or themed promotions. Why not offer a Mexican beer sampler or specially-priced happy-hour cocktail menu to entice your guests? Your bartenders could create a signature cocktail or themed menu items to get your guests in the celebratory mood and trying something new. For inspiration, check out Nightclub and Bar’s article, “¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!” for some great cocktail recipes you could try mixing up for your own event.
  2. Once you have an idea for the type of promotion you’d like to run, spread the word! We recommend using social media as a way to reach both your existing customer base as well as new customers. Social media is an easy and effective way to get the word out about your events when time is of the essence. Check out our blog post, “Boost Your Bar Sales and Increase Your Guest Count with Social Media Presence and Deals,” for ideas on how to maximize your event exposure with tools like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. But remember; be cautious when using social media. Do not put anything on social media that you would not feel comfortable putting in a print ad.
  3. Make sure your customers are safe. Servers should be certain they are not over serving your guests when featuring special drink promotions. The atmosphere should remain light and fun for all of your patrons, while emphasizing safety. TAM® of Nevada will train you and your co-workers to provide a great celebration that will keep your patrons safe, and leave them wanting to come back and party at your next holiday event.

Looking for even more inspiration or want to visit some local events around town? Check out Vegas.com’s guide to Cinco de Mayo events around Las Vegas.

How are you planning to celebrate? Tell us about your planned event in the comments section below, or share with us on Twitter!

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Safe Beverage Service – Higher ABV Wines Require Special Consideration

Published on by TAM of NevadaLeave a comment

Wine ABVIf you’ve taken your TAM® Card training, you know that all alcoholic beverages are not created equal. A standard serving size means 12 ounces of beer with 5% alcohol, 5 ounces of wine with 12% alcohol, and 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits, which are 40% alcohol by volume. This calculation helps when you are observing your guests for increasing signs of intoxication. You can easily estimate how much alcohol they have consumed and act accordingly to keep things safe.

However, it is becoming increasingly common for wines to have a higher than standard amount of alcohol by volume (ABV). Maybe you’ve noticed it yourself when opening a bottle of wine for patrons, but the standard 12% ABV isn’t always the norm. As reported by Health 24, it’s not uncommon for many wines to now register at 14-15% ABV, which throws off calculation on a standard five ounce serving.

Additionally, as reported by FWx, a new study suggests the ABV listed on a wine label might not be correct. The study indicated that nearly 60% of the 100,000 bottles tested came back containing a higher percentage of alcohol than was listed on the label. The average overstatement was roughly 0.42%, which might not seem like a lot. But, it could still lead hospitality professionals and guests to underestimate the amount that has been consumed, and put them at risk.

With variations like this, it’s easy to see how patrons can easily consume more alcohol than they intended to, and much more quickly reach unintended levels of intoxication.

So what does this mean for you as a service professional?

  • Read the labels and be knowledgeable about alcohol levels in the products you offer. If you have a bottle of wine or a microbrew on the menu with high ABV, consider including the alcohol percentage on your menu. A server can also mention the higher than average alcohol content to any guests ordering that beverage. A simple, “Here’s your beer. Just so you are aware, this particular bottle has a 10% alcohol level, so this is about double the standard alcohol serving,” would be appropriate.
  • When serving and observing guests, don’t just consider a drink’s potency, consider the serving size. If you’re offering bottle service, it is very important to keep an eye on guests and keep a tally of how much they are consuming. And even if you are serving a standard 12% wine to a guest, if they are ordering a tasting sampler with three 3oz glasses, or a larger 7oz pour, then this is still delivering more alcohol than one standard single serving.

To learn more about safe beverage service and any warning signs to watch out for in guests, complete an alcohol awareness course with TAM® of Nevada.

ID Required – 5 Tips for Serving Alcohol-Infused Ice Cream and Other Sweet Treats

Published on by TAM of Nevada1 Comment

dreamstime_m_44129576Las Vegas has a reputation as a city that knows how to showcase creative products and ideas. It comes as no surprise that many local businesses were quick to adopt the popular trend of alcohol-infused gourmet dessert products. Wine ice cream, margarita popsicles, vodka-infused whipped cream garnishes and more are all popping up on menus across the city. But you may be asking – am I required to confirm a guest is 21 or older in order to sell or serve these products? The answer is YES. Ice cream may be a favorite treat of the younger crowds, but TAM® Card holders must be extra vigilant in ensuring that alcohol-infused products are only sold to those ages 21 and over.

Creative establishments across Las Vegas including BLVD Creamery, the Neapolitan, Regal Cinemas, and Galaxy Theatres, and retail products available from makers such as SnoBar, Mercer’s Dairy are all offering unique products aimed at the 21 and up crowd.

Nevada law regulates alcoholic beverages and products containing one-half of 1 percent or more alcohol by volume, may not be consumed by anyone younger than 21 years of age (Nevada Revised Statutes).

What does this means for servers and sellers? Here are some tips to keep in mind if you’re planning to serve up an alcohol-infused sweet treat:

  • Just like with any alcoholic beverage, it’s best to consume these alcoholic products in moderation. Each SnoBar ice pop, for example, holds the equivalent amount alcohol as one standard-size cocktail.
  • In the case of infused whipped creams and garnishes, make sure to include the alcohol content in your overall calculation of alcohol for any drinks you whip up! Topping off an alcoholic coffee beverage with infused whipped cream could pack an extra punch, which should not be overlooked.
  • Double check that your guests are being served exactly what they ordered. If you deliver an alcohol-infused product to a guest, aside from visually inspecting to make sure that they are receiving their correct order, you can repeat the beverage or dessert name to the patron upon delivery to confirm with them that they are receiving exactly what they ordered. If another staff member delivers to order to your patrons for you, swing by to make sure the order is correct and they are happy with their selection.
  • Make sure that alcopops and alcohol-infused desserts sold off-premises are displayed in areas dedicated to alcoholic products and are clearly labeled. It is also important to make sure that employees working at the checkout counters are properly trained to be aware of the contents and to check identification.
  • Servers and sellers should observe their guests just as they would if the guest was consuming a traditional alcoholic beverage and watch for signs of increased intoxication. Your mandatory alcohol awareness course will teach you what to watch for, and how to handle these situations.

alcohol infused dessertFor more tips on safe beverage service, complete your alcohol awareness training and obtain your TAM® Card today. Our courses are offered online, and in locations across the state of Nevada.