I'm about to set up a fridge to sell drinks to guest, any tips? [NSW Australia]

[Alex-and-Vaughan0]

Hello

I'm in NSW Australia so my legal obligations may be different to yours.

I'm in the processes of setting up to sell soft and alcoholic drinks to guests. A few cans of soft drinks and a few cans or bottles of beer. Perhaps a bottle or two of wine, maybe something local. Legislation in NSW makes this easy and cheap (basically free) as long as the accommodation holds 8 or less adults and the alcohol is purchased from a retail store (no selling home-brew), and I have a Responsible Serving of Alcohol certificate. (Note: not an exhaustive list of requirements.)

Issues regarding potential access to alcohol by minors are avoided because the host is responsible while at the accommodation, and they must be over 18 to book.

My plan is to have a small bar fridge clearly marked DRINKS NOT FREE or words to that effect, and make the service terms clear in the listing too. Payment by a cash tin, or through Airbnb somehow (still sorting this out). The big fridge in the kitchen has filtered water and an icemaker so the guests already have access to free, unlimited cool drinks so I don't feel bad charging them for the convenience of buying something they'd normally have to get from a store.

Has anybody else done this? Hints and tips (including "Don't!") are appreciated.

An interesting fact: in NSW hair salons may provide patrons alcoholic beverages without any license.

[Kath9]

@Alex-and-Vaughan0 I think that's a really good idea as long as there is no problem with liquour laws (which it sounds like you've checked into). I guess the main issue is payment and hopefully guests will respect the honour system you're considering. I would confirm with guests on arrival how much is there so they don't try to claim there was less than there was. You will also have to make it VERY clear that it is not complimentary as I'm sure you know how few guests actually read the listing! I guess you could give it a go and see how out works out. Best of luck with it!

[Alex-and-Vaughan0]

Thanks @Kath9.

[Robin4]

@Alex-and-Vaughan0 

Be very careful about offering to sell things to guests!

There are certain industries in Australia that are exempt from liquor licencing laws and bed & breakfast is one of those, but always check with your local council as you will find that in most instances they will have an issue with the sale of alcohol by unlicenced individuals.

The same with food.....check with your local council, there are restrictions on what you can supply!

Cheers.......Rob

[Cian7]

I think it's an interesting, considerate and quite entrepreneurial idea, not a large amount to be made financially I imagine, but still. If it were me considering this I would first weight up the overall Risk vs. Reward.

At the core of what you are offering is Accommodation, are you going beyond that by offering soft drinks & alcohol. Your intentions may be good where you want to keep your Guests happy as opposed to making a shed load of cash however, at least with the alcohol, it may be wise to consider if liability comes into the equation here. 

- Take a scenario where a Guest, who happens to get drunk quite easily, then leaves your accommodation with a can or two and then something ends up happening to them... have you contributed to this incident in a way where can they come back at you? 

All in all, as said I think it is a good and considerate idea for your Guests however it may be skirts around the line of being a Commercial offering as opposed to Residential, where the sale of Alcohol in particular, really needs to be given an in depth level of consideration on whether or not the Risk outweighs the Reward. 

[Alexandra316]

@Alex-and-Vaughan0 My sister does this and has had good results, although she runs a traditional bed and breakfast that just happens to list on Airbnb also so there is a sense that someone is there and paying attention. I've also seen honour bars in some small botique hotels.

I'd have an inventory and to display it with your sign, so guests know that quantities are counted. I would also limit inventory to a reasonable amount, say one bottle each of red and white wines, 4 beer, etc. Airbnb isn't going to help you if guests take stuff and don't pay, so I would only put out what you're prepared to lose.

Despite it being legal, I would be concerned about liability if the guest gets drunk and drives into a pole. Have you talked to your insurance about it?

[Anonymous]

@Alex-and-Vaughan0  An easy payment method through Airbnb for add-on items would be ideal, but currently what you have to work with is to go to airbnb.com/resolutions , click "Request Money," choose the reference booking, and submit a request for the charge. Then, the guest can either accept your request or dispute it - at which point an Airbnb caseworker would have to get involved, evidence submitted, and so forth.  Sometimes a guest won't get the email notification or understand the process, so you have potential for an awkward interaction right around the time the guest will be writing their review. 

An honor-system cash tin is an easier option, if the guests happen to have exact change. Also a bit awkward otherwise. 

Either way, you'd have a few tasks added to your turnover checklist. Posting a clear list of the prices, stocking the drinks, taking inventory, etc.  You'd have to decide whether you'd like to stock supply for your guests' entire stay (thereby taking up space where they might prefer to keep their own stuff) or just a small amount (which only gives you a few bucks of profit).

From the guest perspective, the value of this service is directly proportional to the distance to the nearest grocery or convenience store. I'd be really glad to have a mini-bar available if I were staying in a remote location, but if there were a shop in walking distance I'd prefer to do my shopping there and put my own things in the bar fridge. Also, if the fridge were stocked with a small number of complimentary drinks (presumably built into the room price), it would feel more hospitable than if it seemed the host was always trying to sell me more stuff like a hotel.

[Alex-and-Vaughan0]

@Anonymous wrote:

>You'd have to decide whether you'd like to stock supply for your guests' entire stay (thereby taking up space where they might prefer to keep their own stuff) or just a small amount (which only gives you a few bucks of profit).

My plan was to have a completely separate little bar fridge containing the drinks for sale, clearly marked. The guest has a full-size 2-door fridge-freezer with filtered water and ice maker for whatever they want to store. It's generally empty when they arrive, and they can have as much filtered water and ice as they can drink.