Industry Veteran Reveals Deceptive Practices in the Bartending Community

A seasoned bartender from Raleigh, North Carolina, exposed some of the dishonest practices that some bartenders employ to swindle customers. Michelle Charlotte Kimball, who boasts over 15 years of experience in the industry, recently took to social media to share these underhanded tactics.

Kimball, 35, used the popular video-sharing platform TikTok to shed light on these dubious methods. Her video, which has garnered more than 1.9 million views, highlights several deceptive practices some bartenders use to pocket extra cash at the expense of unsuspecting customers.

This is a bartending secret but you can replace gin with any dry white wine to make low abv version of like half of the gin cocktails of the world.

— White Carrot (@awhitecarrot) May 14, 2023

One such method involves bartenders covertly substituting a customer’s order with a cheaper alternative and then pocketing the difference in the bill.

For instance, if a customer orders a Tito’s and soda, which typically costs $8, the bartender might pour house vodka and soda instead, which only costs $5. The customer is still charged the full $8, allowing the bartender to keep an extra $3.

Another potential scam revolves around draft drinks. According to Kimball, bartenders can easily pocket cash for a drink on draft because there’s no physical inventory to account for. This makes it easier for them to get away with charging for a drink they didn’t actually serve.

Kimball also suggested bartenders could falsely claim a customer walked out on their tab. In this scenario, the bartender pockets the cash paid by the customer and simply tells the manager that the customer left without paying.

Lil bartending secret for youse courtesy of $2 cappuccino frothers pic.twitter.com/2U1iUVwCgM

— danisnotadj.bsky.social (@danisnotadj) December 1, 2019

Furthermore, Kimball described a scenario where bartenders could short-pour customers, giving them less liquor than they paid for. Then, when a customer orders the same liquor, the bartender gives them a normal pour and pockets the payment for themselves.

Kimball’s revelations have sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with many users expressing shock and disbelief at these dishonest practices. Some have even commented that these tactics seem like too much work for a few extra bucks.

While it’s important to note that not all bartenders engage in such practices, Kimball’s revelations serve as a reminder for customers to be vigilant and aware when ordering drinks at a bar. It also underscores the need for stricter oversight to prevent such unscrupulous practices.

This article appeared in Watch Dog News and has been published here with permission.