What should be on a Responsible Beverage Server’s checklist before serving alcohol?

A Responsible Beverage Server plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and compliance of alcohol service. Assessing the patron's age, behavior, and surroundings is critical in this context. This practice helps to confirm that the individual is of legal drinking age, thereby preventing underage drinking, which is both illegal and harmful.

Moreover, understanding a patron's behavior is essential to identify signs of intoxication. If a patron appears overly intoxicated, the server has a responsibility to refuse service to prevent further risk to the individual and others. Additionally, being aware of the surroundings can help in recognizing potential problems before they escalate, such as rowdy groups or unsafe environments, allowing the server to manage the situation proactively and responsibly.

Other aspects, such as evaluating drink prices, checking bar inventory, or reviewing happy hour specials, while important for operational management, do not directly contribute to the primary responsibility of serving alcohol safely and responsibly to patrons. Therefore, the focus on assessing a patron's age, behavior, and surroundings directly aligns with best practices in responsible alcohol service.