Alcohol and Energy Drinks – A Dangerous Cocktail

We have all heard the sayings about popular “alcopops.” They are like a binge in a can, are marketed to teens, and worse. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration declared alcoholic energy drinks to be a public health concern and concluded that caffeine added to malt alcoholic beverages was an unsafe food additive (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). However, that doesn’t stop bartenders and consumers alike from mixing up their own alcohol and energy drink cocktails for a quick pick-me-up. Unfortunately, research has found that users who mix alcohol and energy drinks are three times more likely to binge drink than users who do not mix alcohol and energy drinks (CDC). For even more information on the dangers of mixing alcohol and energy drinks, check out the following video from Discovery News.

This should serve as a reminder for all hospitality professionals to serve responsibly, monitor your patrons carefully, and be extra vigilant if you are serving beverages mixed with energy drinks or highly caffeinated beverages (ex. Vodka and Red Bull).

Sources

Why Most Employers Want You to Go To TAM®: Three Reasons to Choose a TAM Card

TAM CARDOften imitated, never duplicated, TAM® of Nevada has been the sole provider of official TAM® Cards to the Nevada community for over 25 years. Although there may be some other providers of credible alcohol awareness training classes in Nevada, not all courses are created equal. Rest assured, more employers recommend TAM® of Nevada for their employees’ alcohol education than any other provider, and for good reason. TAM® of Nevada students handle over 17 million sales transactions each year, and they’ve been trained to do it safely and effectively.

We know that hospitality professionals are busy, so we go above and beyond to provide you will the most effective and streamlined experience possible when it comes to obtaining a TAM® Card every four years. So what sets us apart from the competition? Here are a few reasons you can be happy you chose TAM® for your alcohol education card:

  1. Our training is engaging and valuable. Don’t settle for subpar training with pages of text and clip art or dull videos played by bored instructors. Our online and classroom course options both include fresh content with industry-specific scenarios for all types of employees. You can be sure your training is as up-to-date as possible, as reviews and updates are made to course material as necessary to keep pace with local and state laws and statutes. We also diligently review student feedback for anything we can do to further improve your class experience. Additionally, if you choose to complete your course in the classroom, you’ll get valuable instruction from fun and entertaining instructors with decades of industry experience.
  2. We don’t take shortcuts; be proud that your alcohol training and TAM® Card meet or exceed all state requirements. We work with state officials to make sure you receive the best education possible, touching on all required content. Additionally, we leverage our relationships with local employers and police agencies to make sure you learn about topics that are important to you, important to those who make hiring decisions and important in helping to keep consumers safe.
  3. Be proud that your card can’t be duplicated or obtained by cheating. Your TAM® Card will include your photo on the front of the card, just like a driver’s license. Not all alcohol awareness providers include a photo on their cards. We take this extra step to protect you, to verify your legitimate course completion, and to show your employer that you’ve completed the official TAM-branded course. Visit our website to see an example of a TAM Card, and steps on what to look for to make sure your TAM® Card is official!
    1. Additionally, the State of Nevada requires that all students must physically go to a course provider’s approved school location to take an exam that is proctored, and pass the proctored exam with a score of at least 75% to obtain a card. This means that you’ll either take your test at the conclusion of your classroom course, or you’ll have to visit our office after completing the online course to take your exam. This step ensures that cheaters aren’t able to obtain a card or let someone else take their exam for them.  Be wary of any provider that promises to mail you an alcohol awareness card after completing an online exam, this is in violation of state law!

All in all, our students should all be proud once they’ve completed a TAM course. Carrying your card shows employees and coworkers that you’re committed to an important part of your job duties and responsibilities.

Recipe for Success: Choosing the Best Alcohol Awareness Course for Your Employees

TAM Card classAs a restaurateur or business owner, you choose the highest quality ingredients for your successful recipes; why not apply that same logic to all aspects of your business? TAM® training is driven by the same inspired purpose. Servers and sellers of alcoholic beverages in Southern Nevada must complete an alcohol awareness course. Available courses from local providers differ greatly in quality and quantity. As an owner who is passionate about your business, it’s a safe choice to mandate that your employees complete TAM® brand training. Choosing TAM® of Nevada for your employees’ mandatory alcohol awareness course requirements ensures that they are educated by instructors that have the same passion and standards for safe beverage service that you have for hospitality service and food.

Ensuring that your staff is properly trained on alcohol laws and safe beverage service will also reduce risk and liability for your business. Employees issued citations for serving alcohol to minors can also face up to a $1000 fine. When an individual employee fails a compliance check, the business license department is notified which may mean problems when renewing licenses. Owners or managers of a business that fails compliance checks can also be issued a citation and could face the revocation of their business license. Additionally, establishments which violate statute provisions pertaining to alcohol awareness training are subject to administrative fines ranging from $500 to $5000. It’s not worth the risk. Choosing the most comprehensive alcohol education protects you and your employees, your customers, and your business.

Often imitated, never duplicated, TAM® of Nevada has been the sole provider of official TAM® Cards to the Las Vegas community for over 25 years. There are several providers of credible and effective alcohol awareness training and drink cards, but TAM® of Nevada is the only authorized provider of the official TAM® card. Also, more employers recommend TAM® of Nevada for their employees’ alcohol education than any other provider, and for good reason. Remember, management has a responsibility to demonstrate their desire to be in compliance as opposed to just getting by – and the same goes for their team members.

We can evaluate your staff’s current status to make sure everyone is in compliance and holds a valid alcohol education card. TAM® is also able to offer alcohol awareness training for businesses scheduled on-site at work locations after large hiring sprees or several times throughout the year to meet each individual business’ unique requirements. With this option, you can count on a solution that works for your current employees, and ensures any new hires receive the same great training.

TAM® of Nevada has been providing training for corporate clients since its inception. Please contact us today to learn more or to arrange training for your staff.

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

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