Many employers prefer to hire high school graduates. For many people, a job as a food and beverage service worker serves as a source of immediate income, rather than a career. Many entrants to these jobs are in their late teens or early twenties and have a high school education or less. Usually, they have little or no work experience. Most bartenders pick up their skills on the job by observing and working with more experienced workers.
Some bartenders acquire their skills by attending a bartending or vocational and technical school.
These programs often include instruction on State and local laws and regulations, cocktail recipes, attire and conduct, and stocking a bar. Some of these schools help their graduates find jobs. These workers should also be good at arithmetic so they can total bills without the assistance of a calculator or cash register if necessary. Usually, bartenders must be at least 21 years of age, but employers prefer to hire people who are 25 or older. Bartenders should be familiar with State and local laws concerning the sale of alcoholic beverages.