Fall is in the air, and as I sip on an apple cider, I’m already plotting out the details for our annual Halloween Bash at the bar. This season is by far my favorite—costume contests, spooky cocktails, and a packed house buzzing with energy. The event always gives off the best haunted party vibes, and let’s be honest—it’s also a night when we usually make a little extra behind the bar.
But as I sketch out this year’s plans, I can’t help but think back on years past. Last Halloween was… well, let’s just say it was memorable, and not in the fun, pumpkin-carving kind of way. Somewhere between the costume contest and the last round of shots, things turned downright scary. And I don’t mean cobwebs and skeletons scary—I mean police-lights-flashing, broken-glass-on-the-floor scary. When bartenders are left scrubbing up blood instead of beer, you know the night has taken a frightening turn. By the time the chaos settled, patrons, staff, and even the band were ready to head home long before last call.
One of the spookiest moments from last year came during the costume contest. A patron, already showing signs of intoxication, went from sulking over a loss to full-on rage. Before we could defuse the situation, a beer stein flew across the room, leaving another guest injured. We knew the signs. But in the chaos of the night, it escalated too far.
That night taught us a hard truth: even the most festive nights can unravel if safety takes a back seat. This year, our owners are determined to do things differently. We’ll hold an all-staff meeting the week before the event to review safety protocols and reinforce expectations. Specialty cocktails are already being tested but gone are the days of unlimited two-for-one shots or dusting off Rumple Minze for “old time’s sake.” A safe Halloween means serving smarter—and remembering that it’s not just okay to cut someone off, it’s sometimes the most responsible (and life-saving) choice.
And that’s the thing about bartending during big events—it only takes one “monster” moment to turn a great night into a nightmare. To keep your Halloween bash from turning into a horror story, here are some tried-and-true best practices from our Loss Control Team.
- Measure and count drinks. Make sure specialty cocktails with higher alcohol content are monitored to prevent overconsumption. Offer nonalcoholic options.
- Have security staff in place not only at doors checking IDs but also in front of the stage, bathrooms, and stationed at exits.
- Prior to starting the costume contest, pay extra attention to patrons who are signing up. Keep an eye on their stage presence and reactions as the winners are announced.
- Be cognizant of patrons and implement the I Just Really Care motto when starting and stopping alcohol service.
- Emphasize the importance of communication with your staff. They should be alerting others if they hear or see signs of intoxication.
- To prevent underage patrons from trying to enter, you can require two forms of ID. This can be particularly helpful when a patron has a costume that may change their appearance.
- Require masks to be removed each time the patron orders a drink, and limit props to soft plastic or plush only. Glass or metal costume accessories and anything resembling weapons should be left outside.
Of course, best practices are only helpful if you put them into action. Here’s how our bar plans to apply them at this year’s Halloween Bash.
- We will be offering a food buffet at the beginning of the party. Our kitchen will have a limited menu available until close, and free snacks will be offered.
- Last call will occur a little earlier than usual, which will allow extra time for patrons to exit the building and avoid a crowd gathering at the ride share area. We are planning to block some parking spaces for drop-off and pick up to help with crowd control.
- We will offer a special souvenir cup for designated drivers.
- Depending on the weather, we may need heaters to take the chill off. The last thing we want is an oversized costume to topple a heater, so we will make sure they are a safe distance from the building, as well as patron walking areas.
We know that we cannot control every aspect of the night; however with these best practices implemented our Halloween party is sure to bring a spooky spectacular that is safe, fun, and a rewarding time for all.
