If I’m at a bar do I tip every time I get served a drink or just once at the end?

30 comments

1. At the end once your tab/bill is closed and you paid.

2. Can do it either way. Generally tip with every drink if you’re paying as you go, or just at the end when you close your tab.

3. If you’ve started a tab, then you can just do it at the end.

   Otherwise it’s standard to tip a dollar per drink. More if you’re feeling generous or ordering a round for a table or something.

4. It’s up to you. Are you paying per drink or are you running a tab?

5. You can tip at the end when your bartender closes you out, but if the bar is busy, then open with a solid tip and throw some more cash out after every other drink or so. You’ll get priority.

6. If you pay individually for each drink, you tip appropriately at the time of purchase

   If you have a tab, usually by handing them your card, you do it all at the end.

7. If you start a tab, you do it at the end, but as someone who worked as a bartender while in college. If it’s a busy bar, and you want priority service, toss me a small tip each drink and you’ll get whatever you need right away.

8. Tip per drink if you’re paying cash, tip at the end if you’re running a tab.

9. Either way

10. Paying in cash, every time you receive a drink, because you’re not running a tab.

    If you throw your CC down and start a tab, you tip on the total of the bill at the end.

    A good rule of thumb that I follow for tipping when ordering alcohol: if the drink I order takes one step to make, I tip a dollar (ie, pouring a pint, popping the top off a beer bottle, a shot of well liquor). Price of the beer/liquor doesn’t matter: it takes just as little effort to pour a pint of Miller lite as it does a stout or IPA.

    Two steps, $2 progressing to the quality of the liquor (ie, Tito’s and soda, $2. Grey goose and soda, $3).

    3+ steps to make; I’m going solely off how much work the bartender has to put in for the drink and/or the quality of the liquor. Vodka martini made with Stoli – $3. Vodka martini made with grey goose – $4, etc.

11. depends if you have a running tab or are you paying for individual drinks. Basically once per payment. Unless you are sitting at the bar with cash on the bar in front of you, then you leave a tip at the end.

12. Depends on if you’re paying for each drink one at a time or if you’re running a tab. I generally prefer to run a tab and just tip once at the end but I’ll do it the other way sometimes. Sometimes if I’m at a wedding or other event with an open bar I’ll just throw them like a $20 with my first drink and not worry about tipping the rest of the time.

13. If I walk into a busy, packed bar and the bartender serves me immediately, or in a reasonably quick amount of time, I’ll toss a $10 tip out, first thing. I now consider the amount I have tipped to be more than adequate.

    It’s amazing how rapidly I get served for the rest of the night. If the excellent service continues, I’ll toss in another $10 when I clear my tab. If service slacks off, or turns shitty…..I’ve already tipped them a more than reasonable amount.

14. First drink give a bigger tip, then about a dollar a drink

15. my rule of thumb

    if you have a tab : 20% when you close out, adjust percentage based on quality of service

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    if tipping by drink, open with a $5 tip, then for additional drinks:

    Bottled or canned Beer: 1-2 dollars

    Draft Beer: 2 dollars

    wine: 2 dollars

    cocktails/mixed drinks 2-3 dollars.

16. If you’re paying cash as you go, tip on each drink…. if you open a tab you tip at the end.

17. Every time you pay the bill, tip then.

18. Either way. If you think you’re gonna get drunk enough to forget the tip, do it each time.

19. Either.

    It’s a dollar a drink, unless it’s an expensive drink, like a $12 drink, for example. I just do 20%. Keeps me in good terms with the bartender.

    Lots of people like to keep an open tab and pay at the end (including tip). I personally like to pay as I drink because I drink less that way lol.

20. If you start a tab, tip at the end. If you’re paying as you go, tip on each.

21. It depends.

    If you start and keep a tab open, you pay at the end.

    If you’re paying by the drink, tip after each drink.

22. I tip at the end of the tab.

23. Every time you pay. If you’re paying cash for each drink, you tip each time.

24. Depends on if you’re paying cash for each drink or have a tab. However, unlike restaurants where it’s a percentage of the total before tax, the custom is usually an appropriate $1 per drink for a tip. Some more sophisticated and difficult cocktails (e.g. mojitos, etc.) which take more time may warrant $2-$3 tip per drink.

25. If you know how many drinks you are going to have, you can tip upfront. If the bartender is a good person, they will remember you and might give you preferential service If you’re there for 3 beers, leave a $3-$5 tip at the start.

    If they are busy, just tip as you go or on the tab.

    My rule is generally $1 per glass served/washed. Including water.

    $2-4 if a cocktail, complexity and quality and generally no bad attitude from the staff.

26. Most comments have it right; if you’re paying by credit card or have a dedicated waiter or waitress, just do it at the end. Paying by cash is a bit more of a grey area for bar service, but I’d say that it’s more customary than not to tip every time you pay.

27. If you’re paying by the drink, or it’s an open bar, you tip for each drink. If you’re running a tab, you can do that, or just add it on at the end, when you close the tab.

    Tipping for each drink usually gets you better service, unless the staff know you.

28. It doesn’t matter unless there is a shift change while you are there.

29. If you’re paying for your beers individually, then each time you get one. If you have a tab going, then at the end. Basically, anytime you pay for something.

30. Just once if anything