Keep Pests Out of Your Bar
Time flies like an arrow – and fruit flies like a banana – but no turn of phrase is ever going to make bar flies anything less than annoying little pests. And no, we’re not talking about proverbial bar flies, like the regulars at your local pub who stop in every day after work for a cold one.
In fact, those guys are downright charming compared to actual bar flies, the ones that buzz around in pursuit of some spilled mixer or poured off suds or the tray of fruit garnish the bartender (hopefully) keeps closed when she’s not making a drink.
Keep these Bar Flies at Bay
Unfortunately, flies aren’t the only pests attracted to bars and pubs, and they might even be the least worrisome even if they’re the most common. Fruit flies and house flies are regulars at just about every pub in town, but so are some far worse drinking companions, like cockroaches, wasps, rats and mice.
Just because flies are relatively harmless doesn’t mean they aren’t supremely annoying, which can make a huge negative impact on your bottom line if your customers decide to take their business to a “no-fly” zone. Furthermore, flies’ short lifecycle and quick reproductive processes mean they can go from a minor inconvenience to a major problem in a very small amount of time.
Especially in greater numbers, flies can pose actual threats to human health and safety as well. For example, they can carry salmonella, E. coli and listeria which can be transmitted onto foodstuff and lead to food poisoning – a danger more likely to occur when an establishment is infested.
Unfortunately, however, the risks associated with bar and restaurant pest problems only get worse from there. Wasp stings can cause nausea and vomiting, cockroaches can trigger allergic reactions and rodents can transmit a nasty roster of diseases from hantavirus to the bubonic plague.
So, thank your lucky stars if the worst thing you’ve got to deal with (besides patrons who may have had a few too many) is a fly problem. Need another reason to be grateful? There are actually a few DIY fly control methods you can try first, including one fly trap recipe particularly well suited for a purveyor of adult beverages.
The Best Methods to Banish Non-paying Bar Flies
This DIY fly trap requires only three things you’re almost guaranteed to have on tap (pun intended): a container with a lid, such as a glass jar or to-go cup, something to poke holes in said container’s lid, and finally, the best part: some of that sweet, sweet nectar invented by the ancients that today is known the world over as, simply, beer.
Of course the best fly trap made by man will be completely ineffective if you’re not practicing excellent sanitation procedures that eliminate the kind of conditions that attract flies and other pests in the first place.
Prompt cleanup of spills, regular and thorough waste removal to appropriate designated receptacles like a dumpster or bin and waging a constant battle against clutter and debris will always be a better bouncer than even the best fly trap.
It’s important to be extremely careful with any pest control measures in a facility that serves food, and even more so in a bar where people squeeze together in such close proximity. Any pest control products should be used with caution, strictly following the labels to ensure the safety of both staff and patrons.
But, the very best way to treat pests anywhere that serves food and drink is to call in the pest control professionals. They have access to products otherwise unavailable to the public, as well as the knowledge and skills to effectively and safely address the issue and eliminate the pest.
Schedule a free consultation with your local service planner to discuss how to keep pests out of your bar or pub.
