As a former bartender, it's not that we didn't trust you but that you may simply forget. Even taking people's credit cards AND driver licenses we'd always have one or two tabs still open at the end of the night. The author of this article is clueless.

There was a local bar in my home town that didn't, but I think just for the regulars. I remember coming in once and one of the owners said, "You have $11.50 tab from <two months ago>" ... and you didn't tell me the like ... 30 times I've been in here since then and paid my tab in full?

Occasionally there was a list on the chalk board, first and last name, of everyone who owed a tab. This was at late as 2008. This was also in a city of like 150; so not even a small town.

Yeah they swipe your card early on in the night and give you your card back.

Definitely. Some larger bars (that have multiple ordering stations in the venue, e.g., music venues) just swipe and store the info. Then you can order from any location, or closeout from any location. Some even let you close out by an app.

If you're a regular at a local bar and/or know the bartender (and they know you're good for a return visit with the money) it can be possible to open a tab without a card.

The only time that has happened for me is in an establishment you frequent.

A bowling league I was on for example would allow you to run a tab of drinks/food and pay at the end of the night as they know you are not going to dine and dash.

Granted that was a combination of a bar/bowling alley, but a few other bars that I used to frequent in my younger years after seeing you as a regular would also have no problems letting you run up a tab.

I have never been to a bar on my first visit that had full trust in the patrons right out of the gate, but then again I only was in that scene for 2-3 years.

My personal haunt doesn't. But then again, they're both a bar, and a restaurant, and I think for simplicity's sake they just run both types of transaction the same way (namely, bring you your bill and you pay at the end).

And this isn't just because I'm a regular. I've seen it happen plenty with people from out of town too. The only thing they'll take your ID for is their mules so you don't run off with a copper mug.

Honestly I prefer it: those places also tend to have POS computers that reliably put the right things on my tab instead of relying on the bartender's vague memory of what the guy in the corner ordered. And I can be sure that they'll accept my credit card which a lot of my neighbourhood cash-only bars will not (which is pretty important to know before it's time to pay)

Some bars keep track by updating the receipt in front of you based on what you have ordered and not take a CC upfront. Typically less crowded, mandatory seating type spots. I have never worked a bar before but I assume taking CC up front serves a dual purpose of tracking who has ordered what and making sure the patron doesn't run out on the tab.

I think what he probably means is that the bartender asks for the card as soon as you order a drink..( I don't know of any, every bar I've had a drink at. the bartender makes me the drink and only while I am halfway or done, does he ask if I need to start a tab?)

Yeah if its a bar/restaurant and you have a table its just like a meal.

Oh yes, if you're a regular and they know they can trust you.

y, if you have a spot at the bar or a table around here they don't ask for a card up front. You just order they'll bring you a drink ask if you'd like another when you're about half finished and then add it to your tab. You ask to settle up when you're ready to go or if you say you're good when they ask you for another they will bring out your bill.

Yes. I'd say 10 years ago it was more common for them to hold the card. These days almost none of them do.

I've run into two recently in San Francisco