Small neighborhood bar.

I lost faith in my manager to properly do inventory, so I hired an outside company. As I suspected, inventory was WAY off, two liquors in particular.

I've asked a few people (including the inventory company) for suggestions on how to rectify this issue. Would like your thoughts.

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1. Have the bartenders inventory these two liquors before (verifying the previous shift's inventory) and after each shift.
   1. Pros: Immediate accountability.
   2. Cons: Implying theft (and lower tips) by bartenders could erode morale.
2. Provide a bonus/profit share to bartenders for meeting variance goals.
   1. Pros: Bartenders feel that they are part of the solution.
   2. Cons: Bartenders are rewarded for solving a problem they created. Bonus may not be enough to compensate for loss in tips generated by giving away drinks (they already have the ability to comp) or be immediate enough of a reward. Extra expense.
3. Hire a third party to spot-check inventory on shifts.
   1. Pros: Find out which bartenders are the abusers more subtly.
   2. Cons: Extra expense. Bartenders could think we are spying on them. Hard to find someone trustworthy.
4. Both 1 & 2
   1. Pros: Immediate accountability but bartenders also feel part of the solution.
   2. Cons: Bartenders are rewarded for solving a problem they created. Bonus may not be enough to compensate for loss in tips generated by giving away drinks (they already have the ability to comp) or be immediate enough of a reward. Extra expense.

The manager issue is a different subject...