Problems

Cracking down on drug abuse

Q: I manage a licensed premises. How can I ensure people do not use drugs on the premises?

You can spend a lot of money and achieve nothing without two essential ingredients: vigilance and firmness. It is important that all staff are alert to customers' activities - make the drug abuser feel uncomfortable with your friendly vigilance.

Be aware of alcoves or parts of the premises that cannot be seen from the bar; consider putting up mirrors to improve vision. Bright lights make people easier to see. Install CCTV to cover toilet entrances.

Blue lighting in the toilets, where intravenous drug users invariably go, will make it difficult for them to find a vein. Do not have full doors on the cubicles and be aware of people who use the toilets frequently. Make sure that your toilets are for customers' use only and put up signs saying so.

Could jewellery be a health hazard?

Q: My cook insists on wearing jewellery in the kitchen. What can I do about it?

The Food Safety Regulations 1995 do not specifically refer to food handlers wearing jewellery. In the Catering Industry Guide to Good Hygiene Practice, the chapter relating to personal hygiene states "people working in food-handling areas should not wear jewellery… that may present a risk of contamination".

Sleepers in pierced ears and plain wedding bands are acceptable.

Also within the regulations is the requirement "that food is protected against any contamination likely to render it unfit for human consumption, injurious to health or contaminated in such a way that it would be unreasonable to expect it to be consumed in that state".

Jewellery is accepted as a potential source of contamination. In view of this, it is reasonable to insist that food handling staff do not wear jewellery. Give the offending employee a verbal warning to comply. If this fails, a written warning should be given. If the employee still refuses to co-operate you now have defensible reasons for dismissal.

Logos can be an expensive luxury

Q: I am considering having our hotel logo inter-woven on to new towels. What are the implications of this?

Inter-weaving or Jacquard weaving may well require you to commit yourself to minimum runs of 1,000-3,000 towels of each size. While certain manufacturers will hold stocks for you, they may insist that these are drawn off and paid for within a year. You could end up with substantial stock levels.

Consider having your logo embroidered instead. While the cost per towel may be slightly more, you will not be held to minimum quantities and can purchase the exact numbers you require.

Be warned that towels bearing hotel names become souvenirs for guests and can disappear at four times the rate of plain towels. Some hoteliers consider this good advertising. It is certainly good business for towel manufacturers!