DEALING with customers' alcohol-related problems can prove to be a tall order for beer servers ("Coffee shop beer servers to keep tabs on drinkers"; Wednesday).
People who consume alcohol at coffee shops are mostly heartlanders who prefer a free-and-easy environment; they do not intend for others to dictate how and what they should do to remain sober.
Those in a drunken stupor may feel offended by servers who restrict them from excessive drinking. Ugly incidents are known to happen in such a situation.
The earnings of beer servers are based on commission, and the more orders they obtain from customers, the better. In short, this category of customers provides them with better sales, which, in turn, generate more earnings for them. Thus, it is a paradox that they would want to restrict such patrons from drinking one too many.
The promotion of responsible service of alcohol is more appropriate for nightspot patrons, most of whom either drive or take public transport.
Hence, it is good to ensure that they are in a better frame of mind to make their way home safely.
As beer servers at coffee shops are usually part-time foreign workers, they may also find it difficult to communicate properly with customers, and they would be hard-pressed if they were to engage in responsible serving of alcohol.
It is important for coffee-shop operators to study programmes like the one mentioned in the report in perspective before embarking on one.
Jeffrey Law Lee Beng
People who consume alcohol at coffee shops are mostly heartlanders who prefer a free-and-easy environment; they do not intend for others to dictate how and what they should do to remain sober.
Those in a drunken stupor may feel offended by servers who restrict them from excessive drinking. Ugly incidents are known to happen in such a situation.
The earnings of beer servers are based on commission, and the more orders they obtain from customers, the better. In short, this category of customers provides them with better sales, which, in turn, generate more earnings for them. Thus, it is a paradox that they would want to restrict such patrons from drinking one too many.
The promotion of responsible service of alcohol is more appropriate for nightspot patrons, most of whom either drive or take public transport.
Hence, it is good to ensure that they are in a better frame of mind to make their way home safely.
As beer servers at coffee shops are usually part-time foreign workers, they may also find it difficult to communicate properly with customers, and they would be hard-pressed if they were to engage in responsible serving of alcohol.
It is important for coffee-shop operators to study programmes like the one mentioned in the report in perspective before embarking on one.
Jeffrey Law Lee Beng
