California bartenders are now required to wear gloves when handling components that go directly into drinks, for example ice cubes or lemon twists. These new regulations are a hot topic in the restaurant industry, with many chefs and professionals against the legislation. A top complaint is that using gloves is not an environmentally friendly practice and it also slows down the workers speed. More importantly, gloves do not always promote better hygiene practices, with some workers using gloves as a ‘safety net’ and washing their hands less or causing cross contamination that would be more apparent with bare hands. Check out the links below for more information and viewpoints on the topic:
Eater – CA Bartenders Also Have to Wear Gloves Now http://eater.com/archives/2014/01/15/ca-bartenders-also-have-to-wear-gloves-now.php
LA Times – Under New Food Safety Law, Bartenders Have to Wear Gloves http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-under-new-food-safety-law-bartenders-have-to-wear-gloves-20140114,0,7520647.story#axzz2qOvvmlxd
Michael Ruhlman – The Cleanest Hands http://ruhlman.com/2014/01/the-cleanest-hands/