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SOP — Bottle Service

Owner: Head Bartender. Review: quarterly. Companion to Handbook §6 — Responsible Alcohol Service.

"Popping bottles" is part of the culture at VooDoo Hut — we're a premier nightclub destination in the Greater Houston area. These ground rules protect our staff, our business, and the guest experience. Bottle service is a privilege.

SDE — the Standard Drink Equivalent rules

  • Never more than two standard drinks in a guest's possession. Party size must be large enough that pouring out a Spirit/Champagne/Tower leaves ≤2 standard drinks in front of each person.
  • Know the BAC chart — posted in multiple locations throughout the venue. Questions → ask your superiors, don't hesitate.
  • Bottle service can be purchased at any table as long as the criteria are met. A single guest may buy a bottle of wine or champagne if there is food on the table — still stick to SDE and BAC guidelines. Do not take a chance just for a tip — SERVE RESPONSIBLY. Rule of thumb: 750ml spirit ≈ 10–12 guests; 1L spirit ≈ 13–16 guests.
  • Encourage Champagne — our #1 bottle service item. Lower ABV, fewer people required (4–8 servings depending on glassware), quicker turnaround, safer consumption. Spirits are fine too when managed properly with the right headcount.
  • Towers and large formats are monitored — mimosa towers minimum 4 people; spirit towers minimum 5. Watch for one guest consuming far more than the rest.

Table rules

  • A purchased bottle is attended the entire time. Need to step away? Hand the table to another team member — liquid in the bottle means someone is there. All bottle team members are pour-tested; not comfortable pouring to standard → see management for training.
  • Guests never pour their own drinks — it's against the law. You pour, you attend, you keep servings inside BAC-chart responsibility.
  • No pouring shots into guests' mouths — promotes overserving, against TABC rules and our policy. Shots go in proper glassware.
  • Bottles never leave the table with a guest — explain before purchase; it's a safety and overconsumption hazard. Moving tables → a VDH employee assists.
  • Security is assigned to bottle service areas — a second set of eyes for a VIP experience. Know your security staff; introduce them to your tables.

Service standards

  • Reservations encouraged; no covers, but large parties get priority. Bottle-service reservation tables have top priority Friday and Saturday.
  • Large spirit orders: confirm headcount first, then the spirit, then glassware/special requests — the upsell moment for Red Bull, Topo Chico, Fat Ice, all mixers present.
  • All bottle service tabs carry a 20% service charge — go the extra mile: cue the DJ, proper signage, be prompt, and drop what you're doing to help a fellow VooDoo Doll make a great presentation. (Payroll note: this is a mandatory service charge, not a tip — amounts distributed to staff are paid as wages through payroll; they don't count toward the tip credit or the federal tips deduction. Guests may still tip voluntarily on top.)
  • Management will 100% back your decision not to serve a guest or group you're not comfortable serving. Responsible service comes first — see a Shift Leader or Manager and complete the proper cutoff report. Uber and Lyft are available.

Bottle service puts the guest at the heart of the party — the entire venue has eyes on the section when the VooDoo Dolls present a premium product. The show and the large SDE of these packages are a challenge to be taken seriously.