Bars and tax

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by putonyourwalkingshoes, Dec 20, 2014.

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  1. putonyourwalkingshoes

    putonyourwalkingshoes Pooh-Bah (1,574) Jul 31, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Hello. Yesterday I went to a local bar with a very solid reputation of being a "beer" bar. My brother pays for 2 beers totaling $12.50 in cash and the bartender says "It's $14". I've noticed weird inconsistencies with bars in the neighborhood. If a sign says $5, isn't that what it should come out to? Many times I'll have a tab and that's what it comes out to with or without a debit card and other times tax is applied.

    Was this bartender incorporating a tip already? Has anyone in California dealt with this? Every time I've been to Stone I get hit with tax but at a neighborhood bar like Hamilton's it seems like I get his with tax maybe 20% of the time. Kind of unsure what to make of this.
     
    #1 putonyourwalkingshoes, Dec 20, 2014
  2. Phocion

    Phocion Maven (1,455) Aug 5, 2005 Minnesota

    It totally varies. Some places incorporate the tax into the listed price of the beer, while others add it on afterwards. As long as the tax gets paid it's all legit, it just depends how the individual location wants to do it. I've noticed that most places which are primarily bars will incorporate it, while others that do a significant amount of their sales in food will add it on afterwards. There are exceptions to both of those general rules though.
     
    #2 Phocion, Dec 20, 2014
  3. putonyourwalkingshoes

    putonyourwalkingshoes Pooh-Bah (1,574) Jul 31, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks Phocion but yes I've been to the same bar many times and this has changed independent of if I'm paying cash. Like I said Stone brewery is the only place that I get hit with it 100% of the time but the neighborhood bars are real inconsistent.
     
    #3 putonyourwalkingshoes, Dec 20, 2014
  4. marquis

    marquis Pooh-Bah (2,313) Nov 20, 2005 England
    Pooh-Bah

    It's a legal requirement on this side of the pond that the price displayed has to be the price you pay. Exceptions are sometimes made for business articles where companies would normally claim the tax back but these have to be clearly labelled as "Plus VAT" For all my purchases though, prices will include taxes where they are levied.
    Beer carries two taxes , alcohol duty which is levied as the name implies on the alcoholic component plus a 20% value added tax on both the original price (including the duty!) plus any mark up.
     
    #4 marquis, Dec 20, 2014
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2014
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