July 15, 2010
how to tip a bartender
In light of the mojito gag, I rather like this list, particularly the tipping scheme:
Tip $1 per drink as a baseline, lacking anything better to go on, even if the only visible drink preparation involved is opening a bottle of beer. This will vary, depending on the kind of bar you’re in. This is why crowd assessment matters. A tip of $1 per drink is often an “acceptable” tip. On complicated orders, a bit more is always deeply appreciated. Typically $1 is an acceptable tip for a beer (draft or bottle), but tip $2 for mixed drinks. More if its a complicated mixed drink.
And I learned something new with rule number 7:
Tipping for the whole night at the beginning of the night is very common, this is especially seen among people who work in the hospitality industry and go to the same bars a lot. Be sure however that your bartender is not going to be cut and replaced before you are ready to go, also make sure that the people with you are planning on staying somewhere as long as you are. The typical beginning of the night tip is $100.00 folded in your hand and given to the bartender as you are shaking hands. The person who gives this $100 is off the hook for tipping the rest of the night and as long as they are paying for drinks this tip will cover up to 3 additional people. Any drinks bought by the additional 3 people are expected to be tipped.
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Who the hell spends enough at a bar that $100 a night in *tips* would be reasonable?
That certainly does seem like a lot of tipping in light of the first guideline above. The two together would seem to indicate that the patron intends to consume 50-100 beverages over the course of the evening. Even if one were to take the lower number and spread it out over the additional 3 people covered, you’re still looking at 12-13 drinks per person.
Then again, a night of “heavy drinking” for me is having two beers instead of one.
I think number seven is for four people who want to have excellent service. It’s a smart move, particularly if I was taking out a number of business associates or some such thing.
But I hear you. I tend to drink cheap beers at the bars here in Saint Louis and $100 dollars would cover about 12-15 of my friends. But “light drinking” for me at a bar is two pitchers over the course of a couple of hours.
I occasionally have to entertain business associates, and you’re right–it’s a good idea. That said, it would still be a very generous gratuity even with the kind of tab 3-4 of us might incur. At that point, I think the tip is a about a very different kind of service apart from slinging drinks.
Well, the other thing you are doing is building rapport with the bartender which is essential if you find yourself returning to the location. I, for one, prefer to be viewed as a regular.
Tipping for drinks! Mmmmmmm, not to my knowledge in this country. I had a pub that I went to for years and years and the most that even the regulars would do was occasionally ask the bartender if he wanted a drink.
from further down the page:
“Tipping advice often comes from people who make their living on tips. … Remember to take that into account when receiving advice on the matter.”
Is there a ‘service charge’ tacked on to a bill and VAT?
As do I, Andrew.
Phil, my recollection from my time in your fine country is that “one for yourself” is appreciated but not obligatory.
Exactly, Joseph – the buying of a drink is about as close as we get to tipping in a drinking environment
Sure is nice to live where we don’t need to tip. I especially hated the idea of tipping bartenders for simply popping the cap off an overpriced beer. And the drinks cost far less to begin with.
Blimey, I miss Rome.
Wanna return to Rome, too, Andrew.