What is essential to do with stock when preparing to open a bar?

When preparing to open a bar, checking for expired items is crucial because it directly impacts the safety and quality of the beverages served. Ensuring that all ingredients, including liquors, mixers, and garnishes, are fresh helps prevent potential health risks for customers and preserves the bar’s reputation. Using expired products can lead to unpleasant tastes and may even cause food-related illnesses, which could have serious consequences for patrons and the establishment.

While it's also important to have a fully stocked inventory, to organize items properly, and to count stock, these tasks do not address immediate safety concerns that expired items may pose. Focusing on the freshness and safety of the products should take priority during the preparation phase to ensure a positive experience for customers from the moment the bar opens.