If you’re planning a summer vacation to a cozy, tropical island, you’ll probably end up spending a lot of time by the pool. Just picture it: you’re stretched out in a comfy lawn chair, gazing out across the water when you’re hit with an unbelievable thirst.
When you’re chilling out by the pool with your loved ones, there’s a good chance that the poolside bartender becomes your best friend. They’ll be sure to keep the party going, dishing out incredible, refreshing drinks all through the evening.
Bartenders have a reputation for being cool under pressure, but you’ve got to wonder: what really gets on their nerves? If you want to know what annoys bartenders, check out our list, and avoid these embarrassing faux pas!
Yelling And Whistling at Them
We think this one is pretty self-explanatory, but to put it plainly, there’s a right way and a wrong way to talk to others. Snapping and whistling are more appropriate for animals, and should never be used to get the bartender’s attention.
Each of these behaviors can be incredibly disrespectful, making the bartender feel like more of a servant or maid. While they may be in the service industry, bartenders deserve to be treated with the same level of respect as anyone else.
Similarly, yelling can get you on the bartender’s bad side, as it can make you come across as angry or hostile. If you have to project, try to do so without letting your emotions get the best of you.
Demanding a Strong Drink
If anything gets on a bartender’s nerves, it’s when presumptuous customers tell them how to make a drink. After all, this is literally their job, and they’ve likely been getting by just fine without customer input.
Of course, alcohol tolerances will vary from one person to the next, but it’s simply not the bartender’s job to account for that. For safety reasons, they’re typically required to follow a strict guideline – to ensure that no one is over-served.
As most bartenders know, customers often try this “trick” to avoid having to buy additional drinks at the bar. Instead of saving yourself some cash, however, you’ll only succeed in making the bartenders’ life more difficult.
Getting Handsy
Due to the nature of their job, bartenders are used to dealing with people who are a little (or very!) tipsy. For that reason, they’ve probably seen and overlooked some pretty strange behaviors, but there are a few things that are never ok.
One of the biggest boundaries for any professional is inappropriate touching from customers and clients. This problem is especially common in the service industry, where employees have to build a rapport with those they’re serving.
No matter how great of a time they seem to be having, it’s important to remember that the person you’re chatting with is still at work. You can expect them to be polite, helpful, and even friendly, but don’t assume things will go any further than that!
Withholding Tips
This one is a little controversial, but in most cases, it’s welcomed for customers to tip their server. Tipping can be a great way to show your bartender that you appreciate the service and overall experience they provide.
Depending on the country you’re vacationing in, the standard wage for service employees can vary widely. Some bartenders rely on tips just to make ends meet, so they’d be more than grateful for whatever you can offer.
In U.S. resorts and bars, in particular, it’s typically expected for customers to tip. Not doing so can come off as somewhat rude, or indicate that you had a bad experience at the bar.
Being Rude
At some point in your life, you’ve probably heard that old saying: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Although this advice is often given to children, it’s just as applicable to the poolside bar.
If there’s an event going on at the resort or pool specifically, you can expect the bar to be busier than normal; this can lead to long wait times and short tempers, but taking your frustration out on the employees won’t help. If you don’t want to make a habit of annoying bartenders, we suggest keeping any mean thoughts to yourself.
At the end of the day, the bartender is likely doing their best, so try to be patient and cut them some slack. We could all use a little more empathy these days, so take a breath, and try to make the most of your trip.
You’re Never Satisfied
If you’re wondering about the things that bartenders hate, this item is pretty high on the list of things to avoid. When customers make unreasonable requests, it can throw the whole vibe off and make things difficult for everyone involved.
For example, it slows service down when you ask for a drink to be remade multiple times; this is especially annoying when customers attempt to return a drink that’s already half-empty. In addition to this, bartenders hate when customers complain about a drink that they’ve never tried before; at the end of the day, you’re responsible for checking out a drink before you order.
When customers make countless unreasonable requests, it forces them to spend all of their time focusing on one person. This, in turn, causes frustration for the other customers and cheapens the experience for those who just want to have a good time.
Not Being Ready to Order
If you aren’t experienced in the art of bar-hopping, you may not have a favorite drink in mind. Still, it’s worth checking out the menu before you go up to the bar; a little research can go a long way, and make everyone’s life a bit easier.
Not knowing what to order can throw off the bartender’s rhythm, especially if you start by asking them to help you decide. After all, they’ve got no idea about your tastes, preferences, or potential allergies, so they have no way of knowing what you’d like.
In addition to being inconsiderate, not being ready to order can paint you as either lazy or entitled. If you don’t want to be associated with those character traits, we highly suggest taking a few minutes to figure out what you want beforehand.
Forgetting to Close Your Tab
This one is not the worst sin you can commit, but it does fall in the category of pet peeves for most bartenders. Not closing your tab adds an extra task to their workday, which explains why this mistake tends to get on their nerves.
When the party gets going and you’re catching up with your friends, it’s easy to forget all about your bar tab. In between swims, drinks, and embarrassing stories, closing out the tab will probably be the last thing on your mind.
If you want to avoid this poolside bar pitfall, you’ll want to set a reminder or designate a friend to close out tabs for the group. That way, you can make sure that it gets done, and can still enjoy a fun, carefree evening at the pool.
You Touched the Garnishes
In certain bars, garnishes may be displayed on the counter, giving customers an idea of the offerings available. As enticing as these may be, touching and grabbing the garnishes can cause a host of problems for the bar and other customers.
Once the garnishes have been contaminated, the bar most likely has to throw that item out and rush to replace it. The time they have to spend getting things set back up can put them way behind on drink orders for the night.
In some cases, you may have to point out which garnish you’d like, which can lead to an accidental graze or touch. Remember, a little consideration goes a long way, so just be sure to let the bartender know so they can fix it ASAP.
Acting Entitled to Free Drinks
Celebrating your birthday? In town for your bachelorette weekend? Forgot your credit card at home? Bartenders have heard every excuse in the book, but they simply can’t give out free drinks to everyone who asks (yes, even you).
Demanding free drinks is one of the quickest ways to get on the bartender’s bad side, as you’re essentially putting their character on the line. Without the head bartender or manager’s approval, giving out free drinks can be considered stealing.
On a special occasion, restaurants and bars are known to offer free items, but it’s worth noting that this practice isn’t in place everywhere. It’s better to not assume and end up pleasantly surprised than to come in entitled and leave disappointed.
Line Skipping
Oftentimes, managing a bar line can be a lot like herding cats, which is why bartenders try to avoid this task as much as possible. Every second they spend trying to corral the line, they’re not taking orders or making drinks.
Just to be clear, we’re not talking about the accidental line skips, where you had no idea if that person was ahead of you. We’re talking to the shady characters who weave in and out of the line to intentionally cause confusion.
All too often, by the time someone notices their antics, patience is lost and tempers have already started to flair. If you’re caught skipping, don’t be surprised if you find yourself with quite a few enemies, including the bartender.
Ordering Complex (or Made-up) Drinks
Finally, one of the most annoying things that you can do at a poolside bar is order an over-the-top, complex drink. Not only does this get on the bartender’s nerves, but it can also ruin the experience of the other guests.
Based on the most commonly ordered drinks, bartenders tend to have the “essentials” on hand to keep things moving efficiently. For obscure cocktails and more complicated drinks, they may have to run to the back and search for items that they typically never use.
While you’re allowed to order whatever you want, don’t be surprised if you’re met with a little side-eye. When you’re visiting a busy pool bar, we’d say that it’s best to keep it simple.
