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Tag: Bars

  • Breathalyzers in Bars May Save Lives

    Breathalyzers are the latest trend to be hitting bars across the nation, as a proposal from a state representative in Utah offers a plan that would include the alcohol level-testing machines in bars and pubs, according to the Associated Press.

    Draper Republican Representative Greg Hughes has offered an up-and-coming proposal in the state of Utah which would allow bars across the state to activate breathalyzer-type machines in their businesses. Hughes says that the plan is not mandatory, nor will any data ever be released to police.

    However, many bar owners in the area wonder just how effective the plan may be, and might it even worsen the statistics on drunk-driving deaths?

    Says Bob McCarthy, the owner of Garage on Beck in Salt Lake City, “Somebody could feel they shouldn’t be driving but the number says 0.08, which is right on the border, so maybe they’ll go and they shouldn’t go,” later adding, “Just know how much you’ve had to drink and whether you’re okay to drive.”

    McCarthy’s question isn’t that far-fetched; approximately 42% of college-age kids today admit that they are regular “binge drinkers.” The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines binge drinking as “drinking so much within two hours that Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) levels reach 0.08g/dL, which is about four drinks for a woman, and five for a man.”

    The Century Council is a non-profit organization founded by a group of distillers in 1991 who were aiming to take action in the growing national problem of drinking and driving. That group now offers a National Advisory Board comprised of varying professionals who are dedicated to assisting the organization with implementing new programs and policies regarding drunk-driving awareness.

    The Century Council’s website offers national statistics relating to drinking and driving accidents, and the figures are astounding.

    The Council says that according to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Association, in 2010 there were a total of 32,885 fatalities in the U.S. stemming from roadways and traffic accidents. Of those 32,885 deaths, nearly one-third of them were from drunk-driving accidents – 10,228 to be exact, which means that exactly 31% of traffic-related deaths in 2010 can be attributed to people who were driving while under the influence of alcohol.

    Also outlined in the plan are measures to avoid scaring bar and restaurant owners away from the idea, stipulating that while the machines can cost up to $1,000, many places that currently have the machines charge up to $2 per reading for users, and that it can substantially help establishments fight potential lawsuits when a patron from their bar is in an accident after leaving.

    Hughes says his proposal is a no-brainer: “It just makes good sense,” the politician said.

    Image via AlcoBuddy1, YouTube.

  • Bar Served Rubbing Alcohol In Place Of Scotch

    Times are tough, and when the economy slumps, everyone feels it. Unfortunately, some bar owners in New Jersey tried to crawl out of their slump by mixing food coloring with rubbing alcohol to pass it off as scotch.

    In a sting called “Operation Swill”, state police say they have raided 29 bars and restaurants and are accusing them of serving cheap alcohol from expensive bottles. Fortunately, only one used rubbing alcohol, though officials aren’t saying which one. They have released information concerning 13 of the accused restaurants, which are all T.G.I. Fridays. An internal investigation is underway, according to a statement released by the company.

    “This alleged scheme is a dishonest ruse to increase profits, and it is a slap in the face to the consumer,” said state Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa in a statement. “Consumers should have the peace of mind of knowing that they will get what they spent their hard-earned money on every single time – no exceptions.”

    Over 1,000 bottles of liquor have been seized and are undergoing tests. Officials say no health complaints have been registered.

  • Ladies, You Can Resume Hanging Your Bras at Milwaukee’s Holler House

    There’s a tradition at a Milwaukee tavern/two-lane bowling alley called the Holler House where first-time female patrons remove their bra, sign it, and hang them from the rafters, which sounds like something I would support wholeheartedly. Apparently, others do too, because according to Marcy Skowronski, the 87-year-old owner of the establishment, the tradition has been going on from decades. The Holler House is famous enough to have its own Wikipedia page, which indicates the bar’s bra collection exceeds 1000 pairs.

    There’s even a quaint documentary-style video showing off some of the collection:


    Anyway, this fun tradition was temporarily impeded by a killjoy of a city inspector, who deemed the rainbow of padded breast support adorning the Holler House’s rafters was, indeed, a fire hazard and ordered the decorations to be removed. Naturally, the reaction to such an unhappy decision was swift. After getting rebuffed by her local city hall, owner Skowronski changed tactics:

    Skowronski did what any woman having trouble over bras would do– she called in more support. Alderman Bob Donovan heard Skowronski’s plea, strapped in for a fight, and called the media. Then under an increasing inferno of scrutiny, DNS decided that burning bras are a subject best left in the 1960’s. Donovan repeated to us what DNS told him over the phone: “we looked into this, and we’re going to rescind the order.”

    Skowronski was thrilled to hear the news, and started planning a bra re-hanging party.

    So what started out as a potential downer will, in all likelihood, end up as a business boon for the establishment, thanks the owner’s wise decision to plan an event around the bras and their reintroduction to the Holler House’s rafters.

    Lead image courtesy

  • Groupon Launches Breadcrumb POS System For Restaurants And Bars

    Groupon Launches Breadcrumb POS System For Restaurants And Bars

    Groupon announced today that it is launching Breadcrumb, a point-of-sale iPad app for restaurants, based on the software of the same name it acquired earlier this year. Here’s what it looked like pre-Groupon:

    The app enables servers to search for menu items and rearrange tables by swiping. It has features to enable restaurants and bars to manage labor, take orders, process payments, and analyze performance. Users can merge or split checks, add or adjust menu items, set employee access levels, and view real-time sales and labor reports.

    “I spent years working in restaurants and bars suffering with expensive, outdated and confusing POS systems,” writes Breadcrumb General Manager Seth Harris on the Groupon blog. “We started Breadcrumb to provide the hospitality industry with the best POS experience it has ever had. We do that by combining intuitive and sophisticated software with outstanding support. Gone are the days of clunky terminals and expensive equipment with little or no support – Breadcrumb removes the complexities, frustrations and high costs common to legacy POS solutions. In other words, it’s just what restaurants and bars have been waiting for.”

    “Breadcrumb streamlines all activity at local restaurants, cafes and bars, from taking and placing orders, to table management, payment processing and analyzing sales so merchants can learn about and improve their businesses,” he adds.

    The app was piloted in New York City, and now Groupon is offering it to all hospitality merchants in the U.S. for $99 a month. Software updates are free, and they happen automatically. Groupon ships customers a box with hardware required to run the app. The company also provides 24/7 tech support from a team, which it says has years of experience in the restaurant business.