Stinger Answers: Do You Need to Hire Security Personnel?
As alcohol compliance experts, the team at Stinger Compliance is here to help business owners answer the tough questions. One of the questions we’re asked frequently is important – it usually sounds like “Should I hire security personnel?” It’s a great question with a not-so-clear answer: it depends.
In this blog, we’ll walk through the ins and outs of evaluating your need for security personnel and how to make sure you’re hiring the right person.
The Purpose of Security Personnel
First, we should define what security personnel is and why they’re important to business owners selling age-restricted products like alcohol. They’re commonly called “hired security,” but could also have the title of doorman, hired security, security staff, front-of-house staff, or the like.
Security is generally hired by bars, nightclubs, casinos, concert venues, sporting event venues, private events in residential areas, and restaurants. These essential staff members can be hired directly by a business or contracted through a third-party vendor.
Responsibilities of security personnel include:
Checking identification and ensuring all patrons are of legal age
Checking for unusual, suspicious, or dangerous behaviors.
Blocking entry for customers already intoxicated.
Ensuring customers entering do not have firearms or drugs.
Securing the area directly outside of the business.
Blocking entry for customers not following the dress code of the club or bar.
Ensuring all patrons entering the bar pay the appropriate cover fee (if applicable).
Removing customers that have proved a nuisance inside of the bar/club.
De-escalating confrontations, breaking up fights, and contacting law enforcement.
Assisting drunk patrons find secure transportation home (Uber, Taxi, etc).
As you can see, security guards are essential for maintaining safety and order for patrons and staff alike. Without security staff, the responsibilities listed above are passed to wait staff, which can be asking a lot of your bartenders and waiters handling orders and tending to customers.
Do You Need Security Personnel?
Not every establishment selling age-restricted products needs security personnel. It’s important to identify the scenarios in which hired security would prove valuable for your business.
The People Factor
Consider the individuals that are most likely to frequent your business on a Friday night. Are you in a university town where underage drinking is rampant? Are you in a downtown area where customers turn violent or harass each other routinely? Or are you in a small town where everybody gets along and sings karaoke together? It’s clear to see that some settings would benefit from security personnel more than others.
Knowing the type of people who come to your establishment is a great way to determine if security is needed. Are customers friendly, calm, and amicable, or are they sometimes violent, belligerent, and rowdy?
If you’re new to the area, it may be worth talking to other local business owners to get the lay of the land.
Types of Venues & Events
Depending on the type of business, you may have a need for security personnel. For example, high-volume clubs may need security to keep the peace and help limit liability for issues in over-serving guests. A concert event venue may need hired security to ensure customers aren’t bringing in their own alcohol or drugs.
In addition to the type of venue, the type of event could call for added security. The following events may need hired security to keep the peace:
Large private events in residential areas – security employees can follow a guest list and ensure nobody entering is causing trouble for the neighborhood.
Sports viewing events – mixing alcohol with passionate sports team supporters can be a recipe for disaster in many cases.
Events with high-profile attendees – if Taylor Swift is in attendance, you’ll absolutely want front-of-house security.
There are common issues that come along with any specific venue and event type, and understanding the most frequent violations of local law or your company’s policies will help you discern if hired security is required.
Business Hours
If your establishment’s peak hours are between 10:00 pm and 3:00 am, you may want to hire security staff. As my mother used to say, “Nothing good happens after 11 pm.” It’s at this point that customers are more intoxicated, less likely to think rationally, and can cause problems for a business.
Level of Compliance
It may be advantageous to check your staff’s compliance to alcohol and tobacco laws as well as company policies before hiring security personnel. Are your staff members checking identification? Are they routinely over-serving customers due to large crowds at your establishment? Is service declining due to wait staff acting as customer service and security?
Stinger Compliance can help identify the areas of your business that should be improved in the space of alcohol and tobacco compliance. Understanding the current state of affairs is essential before deciding to invest in security staff.
Our anonymous shoppers will complete a thorough survey of your staff’s adherence to local laws, customer service, and ability to maintain clean facilities. Our surveys (otherwise known as “Stings”) give you actionable insights into the areas of your business that need attention.
Learn more about booking your first Sting with Stinger Compliance and equipping yourself with vital information on your business’s current compliance risks.
How Much Does Hired Security Cost?
The cost of hiring security staff is surely on the minds of all business owners. Of course, hiring security is not free, but is very likely worth the investment. For example, there may be benefits to having security personnel on payroll for insurance purposes.
The cost of NOT having security staff may be more detrimental to your business than first realized. For example, if your staff becomes overwhelmed and slips on checking for identification, your wait staff or your business itself might be held liable for serving alcohol to minors. If someone becomes injured as a result of overserving a patron, your business can be legally impacted. hired security is meant to protect businesses and customers alike, mitigating many risks that businesses can encounter when selling age-restricted products.
When hiring security personnel, you can hire someone directly or partner with a third-party vendor who hires, trains, and contracts out their hired security. If hiring through a vendor, the pricing will vary from company to company. hired security hired directly may work for minimum wage plus a portion of the night’s tips. Other hired security may want a specific fee for a single night of their services.
What Qualifications Do Security Guards Need?
Once you’ve determined that your establishment would benefit from hiring security, you need to understand the qualifications hired security needs to succeed.
Basic Requirements:
Clean Criminal Background – Hiring individuals with a criminal history should be avoided due to liability reasons. Doing a simple background check when hiring security staff members should be on your to-do list.
Physical Strength – Due to the nature of the security personnel’s role, it’s important that the individual hired has the physical strength to keep customers safe in the event of fights, altercations, and the like.
Demeanor – front-of-house security needs to demand respect, and the way they carry themselves can do a lot to deter troublemakers.
De-Escalation Skill – security personnel should be able to de-escalate issues between patrons and wait staff to avoid physical altercations.
Sobriety – As hired security need to remain vigilant and alert, they must be able to remain sober throughout the course of the night or event.
Observation Skills – hired security must be able to recognize behaviors that can become a problem for the establishment for which they work. Having good observation skills while completing necessary tasks is vital.
Training & Licensure – States like California and New York require hired security to have specific training before being hired.
Why Safety Should Be Top of Mind
As you can see, the answer to “Should I hire additional security?” truly depends on the specific characteristics of your establishment. Hiring security staff may be ideal for certain business owners and not necessary for others. Seeking advice from other business owners in your area, as well as talking to a local lawyer specializing in this area should be a part of your consideration process.
Safety should be top of mind for business owners selling age-restricted products. Not keeping safety in mind can result in legal issues, alcohol license suspension, hefty fines, loss of life, and more.
Stinger Compliance is here to partner with your business in ensuring safe operations, adherence to local regulations, and surveying the risks to safety. Book your first Sting with us today to see how we can help in determining if security personnel is right for your business!
