Experience with serving alcohol?

[9ah]

Plus, you can always not drink at places that won't serve you without id.

This is usually what I do. I don't leave camp without an emergency beer.

I have seen teens that look older then me, so it's understandable.

[caffeineslinger]

I look way over 21 and don't carry an ID. If I'm somewhere that requires it, no worries, I don't need a drink that bad.

[LowePro]

We hosted a happy hour at our camp, and poured probably 15 bottles of booze and 15 bottles of mixers, 20 bags of ice easily. My camp of 25 had brought extra booze and mixers for this purpose as our Gift to the playa. Our happy hour ended up lasting about 4 hours. We were in the outskirts (8:15 and K) but it was well-attended by our neighbors and a few passing art cars. We lured people in via gentle heckling, killer music via large speaker, and offering pitchers of cocktail to entice the artcars to stop.

Biggest problem was running out of ice...and Thursday idiots who showed up without ID and often without a Cup. Seriously? Did you read anything in the Survival Guide? We carded everyone at the bar. We let a few people with no ID slide against my better judgement but nothing bad happened. We were not in the main drag of BRC and had no problem with LEO, but I still think carding vigilance is important.

Also I'd recommend "NOT" putting out a trash/recycling bin or graywater storage anywhere near your happy hour venue--the drunkees will abuse them. Encourage the LNT ethic and make people bring their own cup and leave with their own trash. Backup power for sound system! Our first battery died for 30 seconds while we switched to the other battery, we lost half our crowd.

[mudpuppy000]

We hosted a happy hour at our camp, and poured probably 15 bottles of booze and 15 bottles of mixers, 20 bags of ice easily. My camp of 25 had brought extra booze and mixers for this purpose as our Gift to the playa. Our happy hour ended up lasting about 4 hours. We were in the outskirts (8:15 and K) but it was well-attended by our neighbors and a few passing art cars. We lured people in via gentle heckling, killer music via large speaker, and offering pitchers of cocktail to entice the artcars to stop.

Biggest problem was running out of ice...and Thursday idiots who showed up without ID and often without a Cup. Seriously? Did you read anything in the Survival Guide? We carded everyone at the bar. We let a few people with no ID slide against my better judgement but nothing bad happened. We were not in the main drag of BRC and had no problem with LEO, but I still think carding vigilance is important.

Also I'd recommend "NOT" putting out a trash/recycling bin or graywater storage anywhere near your happy hour venue--the drunkees will abuse them. Encourage the LNT ethic and make people bring their own cup and leave with their own trash. Backup power for sound system! Our first battery died for 30 seconds while we switched to the other battery, we lost half our crowd.

We ended up with a huge amount of gifted trash in our bar this year. It's not really like people just come in and dump a bunch of stuff, it's little things that build up over time. Also, when people come by and donate beer/liquor/mixers/whatever those empties have to go somewhere... We're going to plan for extra trash capacity next time.

[Jackass]

We hosted a happy hour at our camp, and poured probably 15 bottles of booze and 15 bottles of mixers, 20 bags of ice easily. My camp of 25 had brought extra booze and mixers for this purpose as our Gift to the playa. Our happy hour ended up lasting about 4 hours. We were in the outskirts (8:15 and K) but it was well-attended by our neighbors and a few passing art cars. We lured people in via gentle heckling, killer music via large speaker, and offering pitchers of cocktail to entice the artcars to stop.

Biggest problem was running out of ice...and Thursday idiots who showed up without ID and often without a Cup. Seriously? Did you read anything in the Survival Guide? We carded everyone at the bar. We let a few people with no ID slide against my better judgement but nothing bad happened. We were not in the main drag of BRC and had no problem with LEO, but I still think carding vigilance is important.

Also I'd recommend "NOT" putting out a trash/recycling bin or graywater storage anywhere near your happy hour venue--the drunkees will abuse them. Encourage the LNT ethic and make people bring their own cup and leave with their own trash. Backup power for sound system! Our first battery died for 30 seconds while we switched to the other battery, we lost half our crowd.

Was this your camp? If so I'd like to thank you for the awesome drinks your "Liquor Robot" poured. We were on L right behind you and the whole camp had a great time hanging out with all of you.

Burning Man 2013 067.JPG

[C187]

I think what Trishntek, and the rest of the people of Retrofrolic do is one of the best examples of running a bar right on the playa. So hear what they are telling you.
One thing I saw this year, which I thought was clever, was Duck Pound gave out wristbands. It may not be the best thing for your bar, but it worked for Duck Pounds set up, and traffic.

[Asquared]

i took my expired ID around the city, got carded a few times, but never had a problem.

[LowePro]

@Jackass,
Yes that was us! I was (one of) the drunk guys behind the bar. Thanks for coming! Do you have any more pics? If so please PM me. We'll have the liquor-bot out there again next year. Her name is Molly.