Man Says Bartender Wanted A 24% Tip After Cracking Open A Beer For Him

What’s a normal amount to tip? For most people, the answer is “it depends.”

Despite this, it seems that tipping requests have become pretty standard, no matter where you go. While it used to be normal to only see a suggested 20 to 30 percent tip at a restaurant, it now seems like every business is getting comfortable flipping the iPad around to ask for something extra.

Internet users have documented some of the most egregious examples of this. For instance, one user showed a tip prompt at an airport self-checkout. Another showed a request for tips at a public water fountain.

Now, a user on TikTok is dividing viewers after saying he was prompted for a 24% tip at a bar. Is this normal?

Is It Normal To Tip 24% At A Bar?

In a video with over 60,000 views, TikTok user Aidan Chapman (@thatsexyguyontiktok) says he was recently at a bar. While he was there, he ordered a beer, which the bartender “cracked” open and handed to him.

Soon after, he offered Chapman the payment machine. It was at this point that the TikToker noticed a problem.

“He put 24% on the thing already and handed it to me,” Chapman recalls. “And I put zero. ‘Cause I’m like, ‘You just cracked a beer and you put 24%? Trying to take advantage of me? No.”

Despite not tipping, Chapman says the worker told him, “Thanks, brother. You’re the best.”

Seeing if this apparent passive aggression was consistently applied, Chapman had his friends also order drinks and not tip. They, too, received a “thanks, brother, you’re the best.”

“Then later on, I think he caught on. We were all laughing at him, so he got us shots for free,” Chapman states.

“Moral of the story is, tip zero percent so then the bartender, who’s already having a terrible day, gets passive-aggressive towards you, does it multiple times, realizes he chose this job, and then feels sorry for you and gives you free shots,” the TikToker concludes.

How Much Are You Supposed To Tip Your Bartender?

While many in the comments accused Chapman of lying or “ragebaiting,” a discussion also emerged about the appropriate amount to tip a bartender.

Some say that, like a restaurant, tipping around 20% is expected at a bar. However, others counter that in situations like the one described in the video, where the bartender is simply opening a beer, it’s fine to tip minimally or not at all. So, who is correct?

The answer, like many discussions on the internet, is “it depends who you ask.”

In a discussion on Reddit, many users agreed that it made sense to tip more for a cocktail than a simple beer or glass of wine. For dive bars or low-to-mid range bars, this equated to a $1 tip per beer or wine, and a $2 for cocktails, if one is paying by the drink.

At higher-end establishments, or in situations where one is paying a bill at the end of the night, experts advise a simple, flat 20% tip, no matter what you ordered.

Still, it should be noted that the amount one tips is optional. If a customer feels is appropriate to tip more after ordering complicated drinks, or less if they simply ordered a bucket of beers, that is entirely their decision.

Commenters Insist On Tipping

In the comments section, users offered their thoughts on tipping. Many said that they insist on tipping no matter what, though some agreed that a standard 24% was too high.

“Bartender will never get more than a dollar for getting me a beer,” wrote a user.

“It’s $1 a drink, if you can’t do that then stay home,” agreed another.

That said, some railed against the idea of tipping altogether.

“The amount of people defending the bartender is WILD. His employer should pay him enough money not the customers,” declared a user. “The more you tip the more these owners get away with not paying a livable wage.”

BroBible reached out to Chapman via Instagram and TikTok direct message.