Guest Post by Phillip Gray from My Bar To You
You could bake your own wedding cake, but would you?
You could take your own wedding pictures, but would you?
You could plan your own wedding (what a nightmare), but would you?
You could make your own wedding dress, but would you?
You would hire a professional for these services, so why would you act as your own bartender?

I am certain you have many friends that would be willing to mix drinks for you as you can find drink recipes all over the internet. However, which of your guests would you ask to miss out on the fun and activities to be able to mix drinks for everyone? In Indiana, you are required to hire a bartender if your party is in a public place and you serve alcohol.
Some people think that bartenders only mix drinks, not true! Professional bartenders are trained to spot underage drinkers and fake IDs. We are also trained to recognize when someone has had too much to drink and how to handle this situation in a manner that does not cause a scene. Further, bartenders know which alcohols go best together and how much is too much. Have you ever gotten ill from a drink? If you put too much of certain alcohols in a drink you could actually make someone sick. For example, a concentrated liqueur like Triple Sec can make someone sick if more than a half ounce is used. To be a liqueur, the alcohol must be at least 20% sugar, but we are taking about a CONCENTRATED liqueur, think about how much sugar is in this one half ounce of Triple Sec. There are many other type of alcohol that if too much is used you could take the fun out of the party. Many people think that more alcohol in a drink makes for a better drink, not true, more alcohol can not only get you intoxicated faster, but most likely make the drink taste bad. When baking a cake, would you add more sugar to make it better? Instead of pouring more liquor, give them a better liquor and this will improve the quality of the drink. Instead of pouring McCormicks Tequila for a Margarita, use Jose Quervo or 1800, not more Tequila. These are things Professional Bartenders know how and why to do. A Chef once told me “A cook knows how, a chef knows why”, the same with Professional Bartenders.

In addition, did you know that in Indiana, if you serve a minor alcohol it is a Class A Misdemeanor and serving someone who is already intoxicated is a Class D Felony. In addition to criminal liabilities, there are Civil Liabilities as well. If you were to serve alcohol to someone that is already intoxicated you could be setting yourself up for Civil Actions. Suppose you serve someone and they leave your party, driving intoxicated, and on the way home they have an accident that injures or kills someone. The last person and/or place they were served could be held civilly liable. There have been legal cases where this has happened, with judgments in excess of ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. These are just a few of the things Professional Bartenders are aware of and watch for.  (Laws vary from state to state, call your local Alcohol Authority to check the Laws in your state)

Finally, a good professional bartender can be fun and funny. I know when I am behind a bar, I have a great deal of fun with those that come to me for drinks. Don’t get me wrong, when it comes to mixing drinks, I am all business, but when it comes to guests I am all fun and games. I have stated on many occasions “I can teach anyone how to mix drinks, I cannot teach anyone how to be a bartender” bartending is, like so many other professions, something that comes from inside your own personality.

So to answer our original question, Hire a Professional Bartender or do it yourself, you decide, base your decision based on the facts though. If you would make your own wedding cake, or take your own wedding pictures, then perhaps you could do it yourself. Bartenders are just as much professionals as any other professional that caters, plans, or entertains for parties. Hire the Professional Bartender, you’ll thank yourself later on, and so will your guests.

Post Written by: Phillip Gray from My Bar To You