Based on the recommendations of a few local bartenders (whom ReverseHappyHour.com relies heavily upon for new content) we are adding a new blog post entitled "Bartender Says".

In our "Bartender Says" posts, we will discuss various bar topics, share bartender's advice, answer your questions and hopefully spread general rules regarding social bar etiquette that bartenders feel all bar patrons should know and follow.

In this post we will discuss the subject of bar tabs.  A bar tab is the open, ongoing bill a customer keeps with the bar in exchange for a credit card.  It allows for quick and easy service between the bartender and  bar patron and also allows for the tracking of all drinks ordered by said patron.

 The first thing patrons must remember is that the majority of bartenders make money from high volume drink sales.  Bartenders, whos primary source of income comes from tips (which we will cover at a later date), rely on their ability to quickly put drinks into customers hands.

Anything that impeads their ability to do so limits their ability to make money - which is not a good thing!  There is a reason many bars have minimum bar tabs. That reason, among high "per transaction fees" by the credit card companies, is because opening and closing a bar tab takes a substantial amount of time.  Time that the bar and bartenders could be using to serve more drinks.

Bartender Says:

If you are going to open a bar tab, order at least 2 separate rounds of drinks (no matter the size of the order) before closing.

If you want an itemized receipt, tell the bartender prior to telling them to close your bar tab.  Once it is closed, it is time consuming (remember how bad that is) to re-open a bar tab in order to print the receipt.

When ordering on your bar tab, tell the bartender your last name while placing the order.  For exampe, "2 Bud Lights on Meyers".

Don't forget to tip.  If you cannot afford to tip the bartender, stay home and drink you cheap ass!