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Nightlife workers have a bone to pick with Gen Z patrons as some say they lack bar etiquette when they’re out and about, making their jobs harder and money slimmer.
Vox interviewed NYC-based bartenders Izzy Tulloch and Jelani Johnson, who opened up about some of their biggest frustrations with Gen Z customers. Tulloch mentioned that many Gen Z patrons, people who were born between 1997 and 2012, prefer to close out their tabs after each drink, paying individually. This makes it difficult to juggle tasks like mixing drinks and serving other customers, as bartenders are forced to repeatedly run back and forth to the register, an especially time-consuming task during busy hours.
“It is soul-crushing,” Tulloch toldVox. “Closing a tab, holding it out, and asking people for the tip — that can take up to two minutes. But think about two minutes for eight people. That’s 16 minutes and there are maybe 30 other people waiting to be served. If I could just open a tab, which is one motion, and then take care of all the other guests, I could come back when that moment of being in the weeds is over.”
Tulloch, the former head bartender at the popular SoHo bar, Milady’s, explained that having an open tab, where customers pay on one tab, streamlines the entire experience, making it easier for both the bartender and the customer. However, Gen Z’s preference for closing out their tabs after each drink makes this process more challenging.
They are taking up space without ordering much, according to Johnson
Source: andresr / Getty
Johnson, head bartender at Le Coucou and the Campari Academy, faces similar challenges with Gen Z customers. He notes that many Gen Z patrons have a tendency to linger for long periods without ordering, and when they do drink, it’s often in small amounts. They’re not quick to go back for more.
“Then they’ll hang out there for a good while, and then you’ll start giving them looks like, ‘Hey, are you guys looking to buy anything?,’” Johnson shared. “And then they’ll come back up and put their two empty drinks on the bar, take another round of those two drinks, and then, like, close it out again.”
Johnson said while he hates to sound like “an old man,” he worries that their behavior negatively impacts the experience of other bar-goers, particularly those hoping to snag a seat but finding themselves stuck watching a group of friends nurse just a couple of beers. In the end, it’s the bartenders who bear the brunt of this, as their income relies on tips. When a group of five occupies a table for hours but only a few are actively drinking or ordering food, there’s little to be made.
Let’s cut Gen Z some slack
Source: Maskot / Getty
We can’t entirely blame Gen Z for their bar etiquette; they’ve had to adapt to significant economic challenges over the past decade. The cost of living has skyrocketed, with the median rent in the U.S. reaching $1,695 per month in 2024, and groceries averaging $418.44 per person, according to Realtor.com and Move. Drinks at bars typically range from $5 to $15, meaning costs can add up quickly, leaving less money for other essentials in a time of rising expenses.
Before anyone suggests that Gen Z should just stay home, it’s worth noting that they actually go out less than previous generations. A 2024 Princeton study found that American adults are spending about 10% more time at home compared to 2003. As study author Patrick Sharkey, a Princeton professor, points out, it’s not just work that’s shifted to the home—so have social activities and education.
Interestingly, Gen Z is also drinking less than their millennial counterparts. A report by Berenberg Research revealed that Gen Z is consuming 20% less alcohol per capita than millennials, who themselves drink less than Baby Boomers and Gen X did at the same age, as reported by World Finance. Unlike previous generations, who often marked adulthood with heavy drinking and partying, today’s young adults are more focused on mental and physical well-being, choosing moderation over excess.
Are you a part of Gen Z? What are your thoughts on the topic? Sound off in the comments section.
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