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Manager Insists I Can't Refuse Alcohol Service

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Location: Peachtree corners Georgia

I bartend at a steakhouse. Tonight there was a party of around 20 on the patio. It was a birthday party for a young lady turning 19. Their 19yo server asks me how to ring in a "blackberry tequila martini" and a coke with cherry syrup and vodka. Naturally my next question is about ID and she says she checked. This felt literally like a question from my serv safe bartender training so I instructed her to alert the GM of a possible fake situation and that I am refusing service but he is free to check and make the drinks at his own judgement. He goes on the patio. He comes to my bar, says make the drinks. I said he was free to. After violently doing so he berated me. He insisted it would be the 19yo server going to jail under dram shop laws, not me. I believe that to be false first of all. Secondly he told me in no uncertain terms that moving forward, if I am serving drinks rung in by servers, I am not allowed to refuse service. I also believe it is my responsibility to safely serve all the guests. I'm 40 and a mother. I've served and bartended for over 20 years. I do not play about other people's babies or safety.

Edit: I'm loving dissecting this with you all but if someone with a law degree and privileges in GA would chime in I'd love that too. There are many moving parts to bar service and how we make our judgement calls. I think I've clarified why I was suspicious of the drink orders and the party that wanted them so I'm probably not going to keep getting into that part. Not being rude, I just would like to find out the legal. If yall want bar education, though, feel free to message me. I'm always happy to share if people are interested in getting into that line of work.

submitted by /u/RevSarahLewis
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