Ale Street News Online

That doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re bad people, it’s just that they haven’t figured out the fine points of bar etiquette.

I’m sure we’ve all been guilty of less than admirable behavior at one time or other. But, once you know how to act in a bar, you will probably do pretty well in life, also. After all, a bar is really just a microcosm of society, and it is often said that one of the best ways to judge someone’s character is to see how they interact with service people like bartenders and waitresses.

We go to good beer bars because we like craft beer, and look forward to trying new and interesting beers. The thing is, these places are bars first, and beer places second. Which means that first and foremost they’re in the business of selling alcohol in all of its many forms, of which beer is only one. So if you’re expecting your bartender to be a fount of information about all the different beers on tap, you might be out of luck. Many times you will be better informed than your bartender about craft beer. The plain truth is that not everyone who works in a beer bar is into good beer. This is far from ideal, but it is reality.

So if you have questions about a beer, you will usually be given a taste. This is a great thing, and the vast majority of good beer bars will pour tastes for people. It makes sense for both parties to have you like the beer they serve you. Still, asking for more than one or two tastes is bad form.

At a recent beer event, I watched as someone asked for assorted tastes of different beers when the bar was pretty busy. The burly bartender made a face and poured the tastes, then banged them down on the bar, and said, “Dude, chill out on asking me for a bunch of tastes when I’ve got people three deep at my bar.” Everybody got the message. And no, that wasn’t me.

A good customer is basically polite and considerate, and realizes that the world doesn’t revolve around them. For instance, a large group should order everything together, and buy rounds. Nothing is more infuriating and time consuming than a large group of clueless people ordering drinks separately, probably with some hemming, hawing, and questions, and then each paying individually. Even worse, each paying separately with a credit card, which means the transaction will take even longer. This seems to be a habit with many younger drinkers. Order together, and buy rounds. Or run a tab on one card, and settle up with each other later.

Another common abuse involves food. Many beer bars will often offer free snacks for customers. This unfortunately brings out certain people that try to turn what is supposed to be a light snack to accompany their beer into a free dinner. We’ve all seen them; the infamous cheese heads at the Blind Tiger piling their plates high, the Monday night freeloaders who eat plate after plate of free chicken wings at the Brazen Head. This is gluttony, pure and simple, not to mention inconsiderate of others.

Again, it all comes down to knowing how to act. Like pornography, lack of bar etiquette may be hard to define, but you know it when you see it. Much of it comes down to narcissistic, clueless behavior like talking too loudly, or unwelcome advances on other patrons (especially unaccompanied women). These actions are turnoffs, and customers and staff alike tend to rightly form negative opinions of the perpetrators.

And then there is the matter of tipping, a subject that deserves its own column. Bartenders and other service personnel only make a pittance in wages; the vast majority of their income comes from tips. When you see them on a busy night, remember there are plenty of other nights where they don’t make much at all. It’s always surprising to see people stiffing or under tipping hard working service people because of some perceived slight, or just because they can. That’s just bad strategy both in the short and long run.