• The International Bartenders Association was officially founded on 24 February 1951 at the Grand Hotel, Torquay, United Kingdom.
• Founding members were:
  United Kingdom     W.J. Tarling
  Denmark       J. Londahl
  France      A. Combettes
  Holland      T. Rijken
  Italy      A. Zola
  Sweden      P. Melin
  Switzerland      G. Sievi
• Thirteen other persons attended as representatives, observers or in an advisory capacity. The first President of the Association was Mr W.J. Tarling of UKBG (United Kingdom Bartenders’ Guild).
• Since then the IBA has grown from strength to strength. To-date it has 55 members (countries) worldwide, divided into 5 sectors, each headed by a Vice-president.
  
  1. Europe
  2. Far East
  3. North America
  4. South America
  5. Southern Hemisphere
• The Board consists of A President, A Treasurer, A Secretary, and 5 Vice Presidents.
• For Year 2009 to 2011, the IBA Board consists of:,

President	Mr Derrick Lee
5 Vice Presidents:	Mr Ron Busman(Europe)
	Mr Tom Kuo(Far East)
	Mr Jose Ancona (North-America)
	Mr Nepomuceno Ramirez Gonzalez (South-America)
	Mr Alex Beaumont (Southern Hemisphere)
Treasurer:	Mr Jurgen Falcke
Secretary:	Mr Albert Ong
Hon President:	Mr Umberto Caselli

• The 55 IBA member countries are:

1	Argentina	19	Holland	37	Puerto Rico
2	Australia	20	Hungary	38	Romania
3	Austria	21	Iceland	39	Russia
4	Belgium	22	Ireland	40	Serbia
5	Brazil	23	Israel	41	Singapore
6	Bulgaria	24	Italy	42	Slovenia
7	Croatia	25	Japan	43	Slovak Republic
8	Czech Republic	26	Lavtia	44	South Africa
9	Cuba	27	Luxembourg	45	Spain
10	Cyprus	28	Macedonia	46	Sweden
11	Denmark	29	Malta	47	Switzerland
12	Estonia	30	Montenegro	48	Taiwan
13	Finland	31	New Zealand	49	Turkey
14	France	32	Norway	50	USA
15	Germany	33	Peru	51	Ukraine
16	Greece	34	Philippines	52	Uruguay
17	Great Britain	35	Poland	53	Venezuela
18	Hong Kong	36	Portugal	54	Vietnam
				55	Republic of Armenia

The Objectives of the IBA are:

1. To promote and maintain International Relations among the Guild Members.
2. To make available the opportunity for the exchange of news, view, proposals and ideas between Guild Members to encourage a high standard of competence and conduct for the benefit and advancement of the profession of Bartending.
3. To promote a close relationship and liaison between the Guild Members and the kindred industry throughout the world.
4. To promote customer service and encourage the knowledge of the 'International Guests' , habits and customs in relation to drinking.
5. To encourage the standardization of mixed drinks recipes.
6. To organize and promote International Mixed Drink Competitions.
7. To promote educational facilities for the bartenders of the I.B.A.