Hurry up, Gainesville residents who are 21 and older - registration for the home bartending class begins today at 10 a.m.
Home bartending is the most popular leisure course on campus and fills up within the first 15 minutes, said Beth Waltrip, director for campus programs.
Course instructor John "Wonton" Gillooly said the class gives students the opportunity to learn the finer ways of drinking and skills to becoming a successful bartender.
Gillooly, who works in Gainesville's beer and liquor industry, has made his way around Florida as a bartender for 12 years and has sold for various liquor distributing companies for more than 10 years.
The first class of each session covers the topic of alcohol consumption and the effects of alcohol on the body.
Each succeeding week covers one specific type of alcohol, the history, how it is made, specific drink combinations and tasting.
Students will sample wine, beer, dark whiskey, vodka, gin, rum and tequila.
Gillooly said responsible drinking is his No. 1 priority.
"You don't need 25 drinks to have a good time - only one good drink," he said, adding he will cut students off if they look like they've had too much to drink.
Although applicants don't have to attend UF, they must be at least 21 to register for the class and will be caught for fake identification.
"Been doing this for 23 years," he said. "I highly scrutinize on IDs."
The class has changed over the years, starting out one night a week with 20 students, but has now grown and expanded to two nights a week with 60 students, Gillooly said.
Each class' supply of alcohol is comparable to a $200 bar tab.
Gillooly suggests students go to new bars or try a new drink for homework.
He said the class is very difficult to get into because some students start a phone chain and monopolize the system.
According to Gillooly, there is no official bartending certification in the state of Florida, but students receive a figurehead diploma, and some are able to get bartending jobs in Gainesville.
Gillooly sees his past students all over the bars in Gainesville.
Nick Farah, bartender manager for Farah's on the Avenue, is a former student of Gillooly's.
"He teaches a good general foundation, where it comes from, how it's made, where it's served and a good general background on all liquor," Farah said.
Farah recommends the course to students because although he was already a bartender, he got a better skill set from the course.
"I would like all of my bartenders to take the class," he said. "Otherwise, I have to teach them."
Home bartending meets two hours once a week for six weeks on Tuesday or Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m in the Reitz Union basement.
Students can register online at the Reitz Union's Web site.
