Category: Alcohol Sales

What’s New: News from TAM of Nevada

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TAM Card Office MapWhat’s New: News from TAM of NevadaWe’ve been busy here at the TAM® of Nevada office. Following are a few important updates for all of our customers and TAM® students:

There is a common misconception that you must be 21 years old to obtain a TAM® Card, but in reality, TAM® training is available to individuals ages 16+. Please note that going forward, if you are under 21 years of age when you receive your TAM® Card, we will add ‘MINOR UNTIL month/date/year‘ on the card, above your name.

TAM® of Nevada continues to offer classroom training and exam proctoring for online students in the Mesquite and Laughlin areas. Check our schedule to find the next date that we’ll be in your area. For our online students who wish to have their exam proctored in Mesquite or Laughlin, at the conclusion of your online TAM® class, please print the certificate of completion and bring it with you to the testing location, or take a picture of the certificate with your mobile phone and bring the picture to the testing location. This will help our exam proctors to quickly locate your record of completion, proctor your exam, and issue your TAM® Card.

Students often ask us about the rules regarding who needs a Work Card (Sheriff Card) issued by Las Vegas Metro PD. Please refer to the LVMPD website for exact details. These rules do not, however, effect alcohol awareness card requirements. All sellers and servers of alcoholic beverages, including security professionals, are required to obtain their TAM® Card prior to the start of work.

As a reminder for our students who needs to renew their TAM® Cards, our office has moved since you last visited. We are still located on Paradise, between Flamingo and Twain. You can now find our suite on the second floor in the office building located at 3900 Paradise, Suite 205. To find parking at our office, drive to the 2-story office building in the Park plaza. Standard and convenient parking for students is available on the side and rear of the building. Handicap parking is available in the rear of the building, and elevator access is available. Parking in the front of the building is limited-time parking only.

Finally, we are happy to announce that TAM® of Nevada will be participating in the City of Henderson’s Community Expo on Saturday, October 18. The Henderson Community Expo 2014 combines three previous events into one: Community Health and Safety Expo, National Night Out, and City Hall at the Mall. Additional information will be available closer to the event date.

We look forward to seeing future and returning classroom and online students in the coming weeks. In the meantime, visit us on Facebook with any questions or comments and keep the conversation going!

Brand Loyalty Among Underage Drinkers

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teen drink preferencesWhile the rate of alcohol abuse among teens has fallen in recent years, it still represents a huge, and dangerous, problem. In fact, underage drinking accounted for over 189,000 emergency room visits in 2010 (SAMHSA). Researchers, advocates and policy experts are hard at work to find ways to reduce teen drinking. In the meantime, a new finding about the choices made by teen drinkers has emerged out of a study from Boston University and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Not only are teenagers getting their hands on alcoholic beverages for the purpose of binge drinking, they have brand-driven alcohol preferences. Some results from the study include:

  • Binge drinking among young people is highly prevalent. 67% of drinks consumed by teens aged 13 to 20 done so as part of binge drinking episodes.
  • 14% of those survey reported having drunk Bud Light at least once, followed by 7% have drunk Jack Daniel’s bourdon. Other popular choices were Smirnoff malt beverages, Budweiser, and Coors Light.
  • There is no strong trend toward one particular type of alcoholic beverage. The 25 most cited brands are diverse, and include beers, vodkas, whiskeys, rums, malt beverages, and cognacs.

For more information on study results, refer to the Washington Post article, “What underage drinkers drink when they binge drink.”

How can hospitality professionals help to prevent underage drinking? It only takes a minute to check an ID and prevent a minor from entering a bar and buying a drink. Gas stations, grocery stores and liquor stores are also places that teens turn to in order to purchase liquor, especially canned or bottled beer packs and malt liquors. Staffers at those establishments should take steps to ensure they are doing all they can to prevent illegal sales.

The RR Forum makes excellent and common-sense suggestions for helping to curb teenage drinking from off-site sales. For their tips, you may refer to the article on the FTC website at “Alcohol Retailers Can Help Reduce Teen Drinking.” Everyone involved in sales should be TAM®-certified, aware of store policies regarding acceptable forms of ID, and also when and how to refuse a sale.

How else do you think service workers can help curb teen drinking?

Resources

© 2014 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Service Industry Tips: Expect the Unexpected and Rise to the Occasion

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restaurant or barSeasoned Managers and Beverage Service Professionals know that the service industry is well suited for high-energy individuals who excel under pressure and can face challenges head on. Nightclub & Bar recently released an article titled, “Damage Control: Dealing with the Unexpected,” and we here at TAM® of Nevada wholeheartedly agree with their suggestions for working through unexpected difficulties at bar and restaurant establishments. You can read the full article here, and check out a few more suggestions for TAM® Card holders that we’d add to the list:

  1. Make sure your staff is properly trained in safe beverage service. Not only is alcohol awareness training mandatory for all sales, service and security staff in Southern Nevada, it also keeps your patrons safe, and reduces risk and liability for your business. TAM® of Nevada is the go-to choice for your staff’s alcohol awareness training and provides the most comprehensive and engaging classes available.
  2. Make sure your bar is properly stocked and staffed. Nothing can spell disaster faster than a poorly stocked bar or restaurant. Having to let your patrons know that you’re unable to mix their favorite beverage, or that the list of specials has unexpectedly shrunk can disappoint your guests, and reduce your sales for the night. Make sure to check your inventory regularly, and make sure your staff is aware of stock policies and procedures.
  3. Expect the unexpected, and be prepared to take control in the event of any issues. Service professionals know that establishments can face all sorts of issues: everything from staffing issues to unexpected weather events, power outages, freezers on the fritz, and more. When troubles arise, keep cool and form a plan for how to proceed.

The ability to work through unexpected challenges is one of the most desirable qualities of a Beverage Service Professional. What other tips about handling challenges would you add to the list?

Resources

© 2014 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Job Hunting: 4 Tips for Finding Hospitality Jobs in Las Vegas

Published on by TAM of Nevada2 Comments

hospitality-jobs-marketWe all know the job market for hospitality workers is competitive. However, companies across southern Nevada are always advertising new positions, and there are some great opportunities are out there for motivated job seekers. For example, new Las Vegas property SLS Las Vegas announced this week that they are hiring 300 hotel, restaurant and finance positions this month, with 2,500 more positions to open up in the spring (Vegas News). This is exciting news for Las Vegas locals and just the tip of the iceberg in terms of opportunities for TAM® Card holders. Are you looking for a new career? Here are some tips to help you on your job search:

  1. Identify companies you would like to work for. It’s not enough to check job listing websites and hope to find an opportunity. Make a list of companies or local properties you would be interested in working for, and connect with them directly. Las Vegas hotels, clubs and casinos are great about posting information on job openings and hiring fairs on their websites and social media channels. Staying connected with local properties will give you a heads up as soon as open positions are announced.
  2. In an effort to help hardworking TAM® Card holders connect with local employers, we keep an up-to-date job posting board at our official training center on Paradise Road. When you come in for an alcohol awareness class or proctored exam, make sure you check out our job board near the reception desk. We keep in touch with properties all over town and try to keep our students informed about any available positions for hospitality and service professionals. You may find a listing that would be a great fit for you.
  3. Visit job fairs to meet with potential employers face-to-face and make a great impression. TAM® students receive the best alcohol awareness training possible, and employers know it. By attending job fairs, you can sell yourself, and your skills, to employers, and network with representatives from several companies in one setting. You never know who you’ll run into; TAM® of Nevada Manger Sherry Cummings attended a Diversity Career Fair at the Palms Casino and Resort in mid-February to meet with local companies and TAM® Card holders. If you see us at a local event, remember to say hello!
  4. Be prepared for an interview and any next steps. So you’ve obtained your TAM® Card, performed a job search, and now have an interview lined up… your work still isn’t done. You’ll need to impress hiring managers with your personality, attitude and work ethic. For tips on how to ace an interview, check out our blog post, “Come Prepared and Ace Your Next Hospitality Industry Job Interview.”

Searching for a great position can be a challenging process, but having the right tools to help you get started can greatly boost your chances of success. What tips would you give to job seekers for finding a hospitality or service position in Las Vegas?

Resources

SLS Las Vegas Now Hiring 300 Hotel, Restaurant and Finance Leadership Positions – VegasNews.com

© 2014 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada