"Younger people are doing things differently than we're used to, and we don't like change. More news at 11."
this post was submitted on 30 Jun 2025
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Lifestyle and Leisure
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How do tabs even work? How does the bartender keep track of who ordered what and how is leaving without paying prevented?
The "barkeeper keeping track" method seems to mostly be used at very small bars, or places where they know and trust you. And not even all of these! Instead, at most places you'll "open" a tab by giving them your credit/debit card. They'll either physically hold onto it or pre-authorize it for a certain amount to confirm it's valid. Throughout your time there you'll tell them you have a tab for each drink/item and they'll add it to that each time. When you're ready to "close" the tab and leave, they'll charge all those in-progress items and give you back the card (if they held onto it). They're basically just making sure random people don't overhear your name and are saying "put it on Jim Doogle's tab!" So they still have to monitor it, but nowhere near as bad as keeping track of who had what and trying to catch them before they leave without paying...
Most bars have pos systems now where they can "assign" you a seat at the bar and run your tab that way, or as I've seen at lots of lower tech bars, you surrender a card and they use your last name to tally the drinks/bill
They hold your CC and assign your tab to your name. If you leave, they will typically charge you at the end of the night with a 15% gratuity added. Then you have to come back and retrieve your card.
I've only been to a bar once or twice (I don't drink but have friends who do) and I get the impression they match your tab with your face somehow.