Shortchanged at the Bar
As the title suggests, I was recently shortchanged at the bar. It was a sports bar that my friends and I like to go to for the Monday night game. I was purchasing an alcoholic beverage for my friend and I; she had a gin and tonic and I had a rye and coke. I handed the bartender a bill out of my pocket for the $7 tab and he shortly returned with $3 in change. I hesitated, accepted the change, left $2 for tip, and walked off.
Not long after, the waitress came around to our table to bring us our orders. I pulled out the cash to pay her for my order of wings (BBQ and honey garlic). While I had my money out I decided to do a quick count as I was still questioning if I was given the correct change earlier. I knew it! I gave that bastard bartender a $20 bill. I specifically remember that I had a lone $10 bill with me and there I was, still holding it. Fucker took an additional 10 bucks for tip!
Now, I wouldn’t be making a big deal about this if it was the first time; but it wasn’t. I remember that this type of thing has happened to me on multiple occasions before, although the recollection was always groggy at best. I also questioned my friends to see if this has happened to them, and the majority census was yes. So be on guard my fellow alcoholics as this seems to be a new trend with today’s bartenders.
What makes me think that they would pull such a devious act? Because they can. This is something that you could easily get away with; you just have to pick your targets carefully. For example, you’re the bartender and you get some drunk staggering towards you and order his umpteenth drink of the night. With his eyes barely open, he clumsily pulls out a bill without looking and hands it to you. Best bet is that this guy doesn’t even know what bill he pulled out and therefore wouldn’t how much the correct change would be; easy prey for a shortchange scam. The beauty is, even if he notices and calls you on it, you can simply play it stupid. Just apologize and say something like, “It’s been a long night”, and correct your innocent mistake.
Admit it; this type of scam would work on you if you were in an inebriated state. There’s probably bartenders all over the world taking advantage of unfortunate, unsuspecting drunks with this technique. And the worst part is that they can’t be stopped. The plan is too perfect. Damn you bartenders, damn you all!
Posted by Frank N. Stein
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