Bartender Shares What Really Happens When You Buy Them Shots: ‘Did You Still Charge Them For Shot Prices?’

An epic night where it feels like you can’t make a wrong move is the kind of thing that deserves to be celebrated—toasted with the people making it happen. And often, a huge part of the night’s success is a bartender who’s willing to have fun along with you.

So you decide to show your appreciation by treating your bartender to a shot. It’s a bit of harmless fun, and everyone gets to keep having a good time. But now, Laynaceline (@laynaceline), a bartender who loves traveling, is spilling a service industry secret.

Cheers To A Long Life And A Happy One

In a video that’s only about as long as it takes to fill a tequila bottle with water, Laynaceline shares a “bartender pro tip.” It’s “water in [a] Don Julio bottle” for when people buy her shots.

Seemingly, it’s a small crime with no real victims. However, the internet doesn’t exactly see it that way.

“So basically steal the money from the customer instead of just saying no thanks lol,” @erickb.photography said. Many agree with him, calling it theft and saying it is illegal.

While @bettyboomtv came through with a lawyerly perspective, writing, “It’s illegal to refill an alcohol bottle with anything else at a bar… you scrape off the price tag and throw the bottle away when it’s done. If you do this I wouldn’t post it because you can lose your bartending job.”

Then a couple of users took the time to explain what’s happening. And it’s likely a combination of the bartender wanting to keep the good vibes going while also staying safe. “So the people in clearly have never tried to turn down a shot from a drunk man,” said @brooklyndavis734.

TikToker @zhanterra broke down the math, saying, “Yess i work at club and we a signature “pink martini” they could buy for us .. it was a shirley temple [sic]  $10 lol. i got $7 the club got $3.”

Whatever the reason the bartender has for taking water shots, she does have a little note in the caption: “$9 shots add up y’all,” she says.

Shots Of Water At The Club?

It might be surprising to learn that many nightlife workers have an informal agreement with the bar. Friends, fans, and guests often want to share the magic of a night with a favorite bartender or performer. But being drunk on the job isn’t productive.

Most of the information on this trick is anecdotal. But Reddit always has an answer. The thread, r/bartenders, does have one person who says their life is measurably better because they subbed water for wine. “This has been really useful on several levels,” admitted an anonymous user. “There is no pause and the customer doesn’t look at me like I am ruining the good time, it looks like it’s a party and meanwhile, I am not consuming alcohol.”

It’s true that it is illegal to refill alcohol bottles (with anything). But in an ethical dilemma between drunk and sober, it is a good guess that sober (and hydrated) will generally win.