Bar Etiquette:

insomb · Mar 23, 2010

Originally Posted by VKK3450

What's your point? This situation is set in Britain. K
if this is brit etiquette, why does he feel bad? also it's money... i'd rather be offended and have more money than be offended someone didn't tip me. this is why i found brits visiting the states to be ass backwards. servers don't make anything here, it's based on tips, but still... we tip our doorman. we tip someone that carries our luggage, our barber, the cab driver... etc etc.. it's not mandatory but it shows you appreciate them. we don't have this conundrum in the u.s. so i dunno'..

ruben · Mar 23, 2010

I tip in the UK.

I know it's annoying, and ridiculous, but think of it not as a tip, but a bribe.
Good tipping and regular patronage usually leads to better pours, top shelf upgrades and free drinks.

rzarector36 · Mar 23, 2010

Originally Posted by VKK3450

I'm an American (who bartended and waited tables through university), I live in England now.

You sound like a **** who knows nothing about other cultures or the outside world. It also appears that you are uneducated.

You will do well in the world.

K

oh yeah, forgot you knew so much about me..................................

rzarector36 · Mar 23, 2010

Originally Posted by insomb

if this is brit etiquette, why does he feel bad? also it's money... i'd rather be offended and have more money than be offended someone didn't tip me. this is why i found brits visiting the states to be ass backwards. servers don't make anything here, it's based on tips, but still... we tip our doorman. we tip someone that carries our luggage, our barber, the cab driver... etc etc.. it's not mandatory but it shows you appreciate them. we don't have this conundrum in the u.s. so i dunno'..

yeah i understand its normal to not really tip in most european countries, but if the situation took place in the US then yes you need to tip.

i tip my friends at the restaurant i work in even when they dont do anything. if i have something i ate under their number, i will tip them for it b/c they have to tip out (bartender, busser) for the sales they had

insomb · Mar 23, 2010

i can also see why he wouldn't want to if it was against the norm, kinda' like creepy or something... all i'm is why does he feel bad then? do you guy's have an emily post's etiquette book there or something like that?

Reevolving · Mar 23, 2010

Originally Posted by scarphe

i can respect differetn customs, but why the 20% surcharge for only taking a top of a bottle ad pourit into a glass. a cocktail i may understand, but the surcharge of 205 for 25 seconds of work?

I trust me, I think it's ridiculous. Totally unwarranted tip.
Tipping bartenders is basically a form of "white welfare"

Masshole · Mar 23, 2010

Originally Posted by VKK3450

Yea, so I would normally tack on a $1+ in the US for a beer for tip, but in the UK you wouldn't

I may offer to "buy" the bartender a drink every few rounds which they can take in drink or in cash, but a US style tip would be not be appropriate in most places.

K

Not appropriate is right, First time in London, I bought a round of pints and left a couple pounds on the bar. The guy standing next to me at the bar grabed the coins and gave it back to me like the world was going to end. Told me it was insulting to leave a tip if you go to the bar and order yourself. Thought it was very strange.

romafan · Mar 23, 2010

Originally Posted by Masshole

Not appropriate is right, First time in London, I bought a round of pints and left a couple pounds on the bar. The guy standing next to me at the bar grabed the coins and gave it back to me like the world was going to end. Told me it was insulting to leave a tip if you go to the bar and order yourself. Thought it was very strange.

Several London barmen have politely & discretely (but firmly) told me that you do not tip. You can offer to buy them a drink, but do not leave $ on the bar. Also, the US custom of leaving your change in a big wet puddle on the bar and paying for subsequesnt rounds by pointing to the pile is also frowned upon. Pay for your drink and pocket your change. Certainly do not leave change on the bar when you go off to the bog....

matt22616 · Mar 23, 2010

I feel like every time a similar situation has gone down with me in the US, the bartender/waiter/friend will undercharge the meal/drink and then you tip them a higher percentage. In the end, your bill is lower and the bartender has more money. Win win.

If she didn't give you a discount of any kind why would you not just apply normal UK rules of etiquette? Because he/she is a friend of your friend? That shouldn't be a factor unless there's a discount involved. Right?

EDIT: In the US, the normal etiquette if the friend didn't discount would be to tip normally, plus a little extra to make it known that next time it'll be in best interest to discount.

VKK3450 · Mar 23, 2010

Originally Posted by rzarector36

oh yeah, forgot you knew so much about me..................................

I don't know much, but I know you're a **** (that doesn't know the difference between your and you're).

And that may be all I need to know...

K

rzarector36 · Mar 23, 2010

Originally Posted by VKK3450

I don't know much, but I know you're a **** (that doesn't know the difference between your and you're).

And that may be all I need to know...

K
get off *******. im on a ******* forum, i dont need to make sure my grammar is correct

Matt · Mar 23, 2010

Originally Posted by rzarector36

get off *******. im on a ******* forum, i dont need to make sure my grammar is correct

I'm is a contraction of I am and therefore requires an apostrophe.

dropout5 · Mar 24, 2010

i have friends who have worked in bars/restaurants before and they generally have told me to always try to tip because they view it as rude not to at least offer, but if it's from a good friend, the bartender will usually politely refuse. i think that's a good rule of thumb.

lawyerdad · Mar 24, 2010

Originally Posted by Blackhood

So, you find a girl who takes you to meet her best friend who tends bar. You order a bottle of wine and pay with a Â£50 note. Do you tip?!

Ordinarily I would say keep the change, but how can you hand over extra cash to her best friend, essentially saying "You earn minimum wage so probably need a tip."

I feel bad for not tipping, but you're standing there chatting as friends, and its like pointing out that she's there to serve you, rather than because we wanted her company.

Advice from older, more suave SF-ers? etiquette
Depends. Are you about to break up with her so you can focus on your career?

rzarector36 · Mar 24, 2010

Originally Posted by Matt

I'm is a contraction of I am and therefore requires an apostrophe.
i should have used one in dont as well, but ITS NOT ******* IMPORTANT

this is a forum

Bar Etiquette:

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