We ALL know how stressful health inspections can be. But the honest to goodness truth is that your bar must pass EVERY inspection with flying colors to avoid ruining your reputation. Health code regulations and standards can vary from state to state, but there are a few universal guidelines to take into consideration.

• A dedicated hand washing sink nearby with dedicated handsoap and towels should be at the top of your list. Encourage your bar staff to use it often as they are in constant contact with germs from dirty glasses, money, etc.
• CLEAN glasses are a must. Drink glasses should be washed separate from food dishes. Washing glasses with a low-sud detergent helps keep residue to a minimum. Once glasses are washed, make sure to double check for remaining lipstick stains, they can be pretty resilient.
• Beer lines don’t clean themselves. You have to stay on top of line cleaning. There are a number of unsavory morsels that can develop in a poorly maintained beer system. Bacteria, yeast, and mold can all invade a draft system.
• Nothing should ever be in the consumable ice bin, EXCEPT for ice. An entire bin of drinking ice can quickly become contaminated by drink bottles and garnishes chilling in the ice or even the ice scoop itself. Store the ice scoop outside the bin. Speaking of ice scoops, ALWAYS use it. Scooping ice out with a glass could lead to contamination from germs on the glass or chipped glass finding it’s way into the bin.
• The more complicated requested drinks become, the more complicated the garnishes will become. Be sure you are storing your garnishes at the correct temperature. Be sure to use separate cutting boards for different type of garnishes. Wash garnishes such as lemons and limes before cutting. Do not keep unused garnishes that have been sitting out for the next day and always wash the garnish holders.

We offer biweekly, monthly, or quarterly preventative maintenance plans to fit your needs and budget. Knowing that your lines are kept in pristine condition leaves you one less thing to worry about when inspection time comes around. Give us a call today!