Drinking bartenders

I'm not even offended by "variable" service by a sober person if they're busy and trying as hard as they know how. That anyone could be offended by a bartender having a beer is more of a problem than the drinking bartender.

 

I am trying not to think about it, but I have so much experience with this stuff. I am no self-righteous fool, but I just have to drop back into a myriad of memories, drinking with many a bartender and always learning along the way.

 

I tend bar at a craft beer bar on the seacoast of NH. We sample the beers as we tap them or start of shift (few oz, never full pour) but drinking a full pour while working is bad form, and probably means a shitty bartender who will not pay attention to his/her customers and mess up your order.

 

We only worry about stuff like this in North America.

Got no problem with the bartender having a few while serving/working. Few oz, full pours. Don't care. If (s)he is responsible, no problem. If not, (s)he'll be fired and end of story.

Jeff

 

If they're drunk and disorderly, or it makes service bad then it would annoy me. Otherwise who cares, if the owner is against it and too dumb to notice, its on them.

 

I bet the guys who let this kind of shit bother them are really a lot of fun to go out drinking with.

 

I regularly try beers with the staff of the bars I drink at often. Can't say I've ever minded it and them being able to give an honest evaluation rather than menu line boilerplate.

 

while i don't feel like it impacts me directly because i'm pretty aware of my consumption, the highlighting of responsibility is the key:

bartenders not only serve drinks, they also monitor how far along patrons are *for their own protection and the protection of others*. being buzzed or drunk can have obviously negative effects on this capacity of theirs.

edit: full disclosure: i have literally never seen someone drinking more than one beer while tending bar in NYC, CT, or MA, so it's pretty academic.

edit2: obviously i think it's a good idea for bartenders at beer bars (and waiters if applicable) to try every beer on the menu. the point is that intoxication is just straight math and biology, so if you're in a position to decide when to cut off a drunk, you need to not be wasted.

 

You just learn what days to avoid asking a manager to do anything really useful cos they've been talking to a rep about some new brands to carry.

 

It would not bother me unless the bartender was too drunk to properly tend bar

 

I do not want people that are serving me getting in the least drunk. A sample to evaluate a new product or for detecting problems is certainly ok. I see this thread like the ones that brag about how much they drink and still function normally. Everyone thinks they can handle it, but a lot cannot. And from experience I know that many times I thought I was charming and debonair on a few drinks...I was not. Of course I am an old curmudgeon. I would not black list a bar that had a bartender with a beer in his hand. I would blacklist a bar with a drunk bartender.

 

I like to share some of my beer with my Bar Tender (If it's a one off brew that I got in a Trade that Maryland will never See!). Gotten a few cool gifts and perks doing so.

 

I've been pretty offended and incredibly put off by stone cold sober bartenders a plenty. Can't imagine a scenario where they'd be worse if slugging a few back (in reasonable fashion). I think shots could become a huge issue gone unchecked, but responsibly having 2 - 3 or so over the course of a shift? Please. Unfortunately the VA laws prohibit anyone deemed an "ABC manager" (anyone of age working at location basically) from drinking while on shift. As a matter of fact, if I recall the law correctly, any owner of an establishment that has an ABC license cannot drink on the premises. So you can own a bar if you aren't' a drinker. Don't' get me started on all these blue laws and otherwise conservative laws as they are applied to alcohol.

As for your recount of the Irish shanty singing, the scene from "The Other Guys" where Will Ferrell is doing just this will be stuck in my head for the rest of the day!

 

I could care less as long as they are still able to do thier job.

haha, I can think of a bar I really like that the owner is drinking there just about every time I go.

 

You see a hammered 22 year old waitress and you care that it affects the level of service? You and I are very different people sir.

 

It really depends on if they're good at their job to begin with. If it's an educated chap with excellent awareness and very attentative, by all means indulge. If I have to shoot up a flare every time I need a drink, put the booze down and get better at your job. When I was tending I would have a few, but only when the customer "bought me one" and it wasn't broadcasted.

 

The OP was pretty clear that while they were drinking, they were NOT bombing down beers and all sloppy behind the bar. I was going off what started this thread. Getting canned while on the job, regardless of what that job might be, is unprofessional. But as long as you get your drink, I don't see the big deal.

 

As a bartender working in NC, all I can say is the specific person you're talking about had better watch their ass cuz ALE has been cracking down hard lately, especially here in Asheville. Taking a taste of new beers here and there is one thing, but consistently drinking multiple glasses is unprofessional IMO even though, yes, I've seen bartenders even take shots behind the bar, especially when I was living in New Orleans. That's all well and good that they're able to keep their shit together even when drunk (personally I wouldn't be able to), but it's like why take the chance of having a serious accident occur and then wonder if it might not have happened if you were sober?

 

Well that sucks.
As for the o.p. when I am in any establishment to eat or drink, I am concerned with the cleanliness, quality, and service.
Why the fuck would I care if someone has a drink where it is allowed, as long as my criteria is met,