If you’re at a bar and trying to guess if someone belongs to Gen Z or is a millennial, watch how they handle their payments for drinks.
It seems that younger folks—often referred to as Zoomers—prefer to settle up after each drink rather than open a tab.
According to one source, there are several reasons that explain this trend.
For starters, Gen Z generally tends to drink less than the previous generation, making the idea of a bar tab feel a bit excessive.
“Closing the tab can really help curb indulgence since you don’t have easy access to it,” said Jewel Chavez, who is 23.
Moreover, many in Gen Z are accustomed to quick transactions, often using Apple Pay instead of physical cards. Tapping a phone for payment has become pretty standard for them.
So, buying drinks at a bar feels a lot like getting coffee at a café to them.
Additionally, with worries about the economy looming, many Zoomers prefer to keep a close eye on their expenses and are hesitant to leave a card with the bartender.
Dr. Michael McMillan, who teaches personal finance at the University of Maryland, mentioned that his students consciously decide against opening tabs to stay more mindful of their spending.
“I’ve opened a tab before, thinking, ‘Okay, I’ve bought this round of drinks,’ and closing it helps me keep track,” he said. “At the end of the night, there are usually no surprises.”
Another contributor, Nareg Haradian, 27, expressed, “Leaving the tab open isn’t going to save you anything. Just swipe your card again; it takes another 10 seconds.”
Interestingly, millennials are quite surprised by these habits. Some even labeled it as “odd behavior.”
One individual remarked about witnessing Zoomers close every single round with credit cards, suggesting they might need some guidance on how to navigate a bar.
Bartenders are not thrilled either. Al Barber, who manages a bar in Los Angeles, commented on the lack of traditional bar etiquette among younger patrons.
Tiarah Horn, a bartender in Seattle, has shared her frustrations about repeatedly needing to close tabs for groups, pointing out that there’s little consideration for others waiting.
“They don’t even think about how it impacts service,” Horn said. “Someone’s got to step in and remind them to show some respect.”
Barber elaborated on the impact this behavior has during peak times, stating that focusing on these individual tabs can divert attention away from serving the next customer.
When bars are busy and bartenders are trying to efficiently prepare drinks, constantly opening and closing tabs can slow things down for everyone.
Moreover, each time a credit card is processed, the bar incurs fees, which can dent their profits. Repeated transactions often end up costing more in the long run than a single payment covering the total bill.
