Barback

A barback or runner, as they are commonly known in Europe, is a bartender's assistant. Barbacks work in nightclubs, bars, restaurants and catering halls. They stock the bar with liquor, ice, glassware, beer, garnishes, and so on, and usually receive a portion of the bartender's tips, often around 10% to 20%, or a portion of total sales, from 1.5% to 3%.^{[citation needed]} At high volume bars, this is divided where more than one barback is present.

They are often under the tutelage of bartenders and work their way into the job. They are there to simplify a bartender's job; bussing tables and dishwashing are common duties. In some establishments, barbacks may also be responsible for the safety of the bartender.

While the legal drinking age in the United States is 21, the minimum age in that country to work as a bartender or barback varies from 18 to 21. In Ontario in Canada, barbacks must pass the same SmartServe licensing programme as bartenders.

Most nightclub barbacks stock and continually re-stock glassware, beer, liquor, ice, and mixes, and also set up and tear down the face of the bar. The barback often starts working hours before the bartender arrives, and continues working for some time after the bartender has finished.

In addition, queueing customers and acting as a first-response system for bouncers are parts of the job. The barback may also be responsible for a bar's inventory control — reporting opening and closing stock levels, and counting and weighing liquor bottles.