Bars To Go group serves up safe drinking lessons

The recent launch of Diageo's Project Bartender under their 'Learning For Life' banner at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, in association with the tertiary institution and the Bars To Go Group of Companies, was nothing short of enlightening.

The programme, which will not only train 30 UWI students to become certified bartenders, will also focus on responsible drinking, a problem which has plagued campuses in the past.

According to lecturer of the series, Patrice McHugh, managing director of the Bars To Go Group of Companies and the island's only master mixologist, "Bars To Go opted to partner with UWI and Red Stripe for Diageo's Project Bartender because as the island's leading party-services company, we not only saw the opportunity to teach the students here about responsible drinking and bartending, but it was also an avenue through which we could elevate the standard of bartending in the island."

McHugh also stated that upon completion of the programme, the students will receive a Bars To Go certificate and letter of commendation, which will enable them to practise bartending anywhere in the Commonwealth region, which includes Canada and England.

Best service

"Upon completion of the course, [they] would have learnt thatone chief component of bartending is putting [their] patrons and clients' needs above [their] own andmaking surethey receive the best service you have to offer. And as someone who has been in the industry for almost 10 years, I can assure you that part of any prestigious bar service isguaranteeing that safe drinking is promoted at the event ... . In short,a bartender should have their consumers' interests at heart, at all times.The reason is simple - nobody wants merry-making to end in tragedy. A sad scenario too many college students have already fallen victim to," said McHugh at the launch.