F-25 — Tower Sharing Standards

DraftVerify Standards Library · F-25

This document establishes the requirements and restrictions for serving non-alcoholic (NA) draft products on a tower that also dispenses alcoholic beverages (“shared towers”).

Tower sharing is permitted under the DraftVerify Standard only when identity controls, separation rules, and verification workflows are strictly followed.

NA mis-serve risk is highest on shared towers, making this one of the most sensitive sections of the entire DraftVerify ecosystem.

1. Purpose

The purpose of this standard is to:

Prevent NA ↔ alcoholic mis-serves
Ensure correct identity on shared towers
Provide clear visual & operational separation
Define compliance for mixed-product towers
Reduce risk in high-turnover and high-volume environments
Ensure DraftVerify identity chain remains intact

2. Scope

Applies to:

Bars
Restaurants
Stadiums
Breweries
Event venues
Multi-venue operations

Covers:

Identity placement
Physical separation rules
Faucet identification
Line routing
Verification workflow requirements
Staff responsibilities

Excludes:

Dedicated NA-only towers (handled by F-24 and F-18)

Tower sharing is allowed only when:

NA identity is unmistakable at every interaction point
NA lines are verified before every keg change
Faucet labels cannot be confused or swapped
Staff are trained to understand NA risks (F-23)
System design supports separation (F-24)

Failure to meet these principles = tower cannot be shared.

4. Identity Requirements for Shared Towers

4.1 Faucet Identification (Mandatory)

The NA faucet must include:

A DraftVerify NA identity marker
Gold category color
Clear text: NON-ALCOHOLIC or 0.0%

4.2 Tower Marker Placement

Markers must be:

On the faucet collar or
On tower face directly behind faucet
In a fixed, tamper-resistant position

4.3 Line Tag Consistency

Line tags must match:

Coupler tag identity
Verification results
Venue line map (F-18)

4.4 Handle Restriction

DraftVerify recommends:

Using a unique NA-only tap handle
Avoiding handles resembling alcoholic brands

5. Physical Separation Rules

5.1 Spatial Separation

NA faucets must not be placed:

Between two alcoholic taps
In clusters that obscure identification

Preferred placement:

Edge of tower
Distinct vertical spacing

5.2 Visual Separation

At least one form of NA emphasis must be present:

Colored handle
Colored faucet marker
Gold banding
Prominent NA signage

5.3 Proximity Hazards

Avoid placing NA taps:

Next to rotating seasonal taps
Next to unlabeled faucets
On towers with frequent handle swapping

These situations require elevated control.

6. Line Routing Requirements

6.1 Unique Routing Path

NA lines must:

Follow a clearly identifiable route
Never cross-connect with alcoholic lines
Be marked with NA Gold in cooler

6.2 Accessibility

ALL NA identity components must be accessible:

Line tag (F-8)
Coupler tag (F-7)
Keg collar (F-6)

6.3 Documentation

Routing must be recorded in the Venue Setup Map (F-18).

7. Verification Workflow Requirements

Step 1 — Identify Line Tag

Staff confirms correct NA line in cooler.

Step 2 — NFC Scan

Scan coupler tag before tapping.

Must display:

Brewery
Product
Category: Non-Alcoholic
Active tag status

Step 3 — Confirm Faucet

The faucet identity must match the product verified.

Step 4 — Connect Keg

Only after visual + digital confirmation.

Step 5 — Service Checks

Throughout shift:

Ensure NA faucet identity remains visible
Ensure no handle or label swapping
Confirm correct tap is used

8. Staff Responsibilities

8.1 Opening Duties

Confirm NA faucet labeling
Confirm no alcoholic product is on NA line
Scan any newly installed keg

8.2 Mid-Shift Duties

Monitor tower for mislabeling
Watch for swapped handles
Re-check identity if any doubts arise

8.3 Closing Duties

Inspect NA faucet
Document any identity concerns
Report unusual taste or flow issues

9. Risk Mitigation Measures

Shared towers inherently increase mis-serve risk.

Venues should adopt:

9.1 Redundant Identity

Use two or more of the following:

Gold faucet decals
NA-specific tap handle
NA signage on tower
Gold line wraps in cooler

9.2 Restricted Staff Access

Only trained staff (F-23) should:

Change kegs
Swap handles
Perform line reassignments

Examples:

Nightclubs
High-turnover stadium bars
Festivals
Dark/low-light environments

In these cases, DraftVerify recommends a dedicated NA tower.

10. Incident Handling on Shared Towers

If any identity issue occurs:

Follow F-22 Incident Response
Immediately stop service
Quarantine affected keg
Re-verify line routing
Retrain staff if needed

Shared towers require zero-tolerance for identity ambiguity.

11. Compliance Requirements

A venue is DraftVerify-compliant only if:

NA faucet is unmistakably marked
NA line is correctly routed and tagged
Identity chain is intact (keg → coupler → line → faucet)
Verification is performed every keg change
Staff training is complete
No alcoholic product has ever run on the NA line since last sanitation

Non-compliance triggers:

Corrective action
Possible removal from DraftVerify certification
Increased audit frequency

12. Summary

The Tower Sharing Standard ensures:

Clear NA identification
Safe and accurate draft service
Reduced mis-serve risk
Proper physical and operational separation
Compatibility with the full DraftVerify identity system

Shared towers are permissible — but only when identity is unmistakable, verification is consistent, and risk controls are strictly maintained.

Tower Sharing Standards