Were there days when you stared at the previous night’s bar bill, regretting spending that large an amount? I’ve been there and I regret it every single time no matter how much my roommate whispered ‘YOLO’ when I was whining. And let’s be real, sometimes you don’t even notice where your money is going.
To make better decisions next time, here’s a few secret tricks bartenders use to get you to visit the bar often throughout the night.
1. Flattery
Haven’t all of us succumbed to a sales person’s flattery at some point of time or another? A bank manager praised my upbringing in front of my father to make him spend more for certain bank services, and it worked! Same way, bartenders will chat you up, accept special drink requests and make your drink ‘extra strong’ at no extra cost to make you order more than you had intended to for the night.
2. Polished Suggestions
Instead of saying “Would you like more wine?”, bartenders might say “Would the lady like another glass of wine?”. The change in words makes you feel more important and you end up saying yes even though earlier you’d made up your mind to order a pint of cheap beer next.
3. Occasion Observations
Bartenders are more likely to suggest pricey liquor if the customers are there to celebrate an occasion. Once, a bartender suggested tequila shots to a couple beside me as soon as he sensed they were on a date. The man switched the order from vodka shots to tequila shots in a jiffy, to impress his date more than likely.
4. Manipulation by Music
You read that right. Bartenders and in-house DJs will play slow mellow songs during the day and on slow nights to keep customers seated and order more drinks whereas play upbeat music during busy nights to have people order quickly and leave. Slow music will make you feel relaxed, as if there is no hurry in the world and upbeat music will make you want to bar hop or make new plans.
Try to remember all the times this trick worked on you…
5. Themed Cocktails
Remember when you paid extra bucks for your Christmas-themed Tom Collins last year? There was a candy cane in your glass! Well, even though it might have tasted different and better, that drink was exactly like a regular Tom Collins. So, watch out for all the Halloween-themed cocktails that will be priced higher than their regular variations. Adding edible black dye to your Cosmopolitan will not change its taste, my dear.
