Mandatory Open Bar

carey24 · Post by **carey24** » November 12, 2007 7:28 am

Believe it or not I have a complaint about this. Here's the situation:

Sat night I went to a neighborhood bar with billiards/club area/restaurant etc. We got there around 8pm and started playing pool. Around 9pm, a guy came over with a cup and wristband and told me it was ladies night and it was $10 for open bar. I told him I wasn't interested, I had a beer already and I was driving. He said it was mandatory. Again, I told him I was driving, wasn't drinking any more, and I wasn't interested. He basically told me that if I wanted to stay I had to pay $10. I asked if that would cover the beer I already had (we had a tab going). His answer was no. Now my date, being the nice guy he is, just paid the guy. I have some serious issues with this (and had it not been a first date, probably would have gotten a manager and caused a scene or walked out)....

First, we were already there. It wasn't as if we were coming in after the ladies night started (9pm).

Second, none of the men had to pay anything to stay.

Third, I think it is completely irresponsible of a bar to force people to participate in an "open bar" when we have such a drinking and driving problem.

I have no issue with bars running specials and all you can drink. But for crying out loud the people should have a choice. Suppose (God forbid) I was allergic to alcohol?!?

The comedy club in our area has a two drink minimum. Granted, that includes non-alcoholic drinks and it is printed on your ticket before you get there.

I just think that people should have a choice in whether or not they drink, and shouldn't have to pay if they are not. I have no problem with bars that charge covers.....to EVERYONE. Trust me, I can drink with the best of them. But when I am driving, I do my best to be responsible about it.

Skibo · Post by **Skibo** » November 12, 2007 8:10 am

If you don't like the rules of the bar, please go elsewhere.

Moonie · Post by **Moonie** » November 12, 2007 8:45 am

so yours turned out to be basically a $10 cover charge..

I'm not sure I know what open bar is, drinks cheap or free/beer for the $10? mixed drinks generally only cover well drinks...eck!

I'd stop in sometime right after they open and talk to the manager esp. if it's a local bar you might be returning to.

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » November 12, 2007 9:15 am

I'd definitely have a chat with the manager....

Besides the drinking (or not, if you choose not to) aspect, basically the women had to pay a cover charge the men didn't have to pay. That's probably covered in some sexual harassment law somewhere....

AlbatrossFlyer · Post by **AlbatrossFlyer** » November 12, 2007 9:25 am

1) lot's of bars pull the same stunt, forcing patrons to pay the late night cover charge even though they've been there for some time. you're pretty much stuck paying the cover or leaving.

2) lot's of bars charge guys a cover but let the women in for free. never been in a joint where the guys get in free and the ladies have to pay... so where is this joint?

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » November 12, 2007 9:35 am

AlbatrossFlyer wrote:1) lot's of bars pull the same stunt, forcing patrons to pay the late night cover charge even though they've been there for some time. you're pretty much stuck paying the cover or leaving.

2) lot's of bars charge guys a cover but let the women in for free. never been in a joint where the guys get in free and the ladies have to pay... so where is this joint?

lots of ladies nights around here (women free, men pay a cover) have disappeared because the guys went after it with sexual harassment charges

carey24 · Post by **carey24** » November 12, 2007 9:39 am

Moonie wrote:so yours turned out to be basically a $10 cover charge..

Yes....but only for the WOMEN. The guy I was with didn't have to pay anything to stay.....that's what I take issue with.

In addition, every bar that has a cover, if you are there before the time the cover starts, you don't have to pay.

AlbatrossFlyer · Post by **AlbatrossFlyer** » November 12, 2007 9:40 am

you should see the brouhaha here in town with a nightclub in scottsdale. the club has offended the transgender crowd after the the club 86'd them when the female patrons complained about the "women with outdoor plumbing" using the women's restroom.

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » November 12, 2007 9:42 am

AlbatrossFlyer wrote:you should see the brouhaha here in town with a nightclub in scottsdale. the club has offended the transgender crowd after the the club 86'd them when the female patrons complained about the "women with outdoor plumbing" using the women's restroom.

I don't get why that's such a big deal.... They're in a stall for crying out loud... we have unisex bathrooms at home and no one gets stupid about it...

AlbatrossFlyer · Post by **AlbatrossFlyer** » November 12, 2007 9:48 am

one club i go to doesn't have a mirror over the sinks. it's an open hole into the other restroom. it's a trip until you get used to it.

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » November 12, 2007 9:52 am

AlbatrossFlyer wrote:one club i go to doesn't have a mirror over the sinks. it's an open hole into the other restroom. it's a trip until you get used to it.

That would take a little getting used to, yep...

AlbatrossFlyer · Post by **AlbatrossFlyer** » November 12, 2007 9:59 am

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:
AlbatrossFlyer wrote:one club i go to doesn't have a mirror over the sinks. it's an open hole into the other restroom. it's a trip until you get used to it.
That would take a little getting used to, yep...

it's pretty funny watching the ladies trying to touch up their makeup before they realize it isn't a mirror and they're staring some guy in the face.

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » November 12, 2007 10:09 am

AlbatrossFlyer wrote:
SchoolGirlHeart wrote:
AlbatrossFlyer wrote:one club i go to doesn't have a mirror over the sinks. it's an open hole into the other restroom. it's a trip until you get used to it.
That would take a little getting used to, yep...
it's pretty funny watching the ladies trying to touch up their makeup before they realize it isn't a mirror and they're staring some guy in the face.

and how exactly are the gals supposed to commiserate about the guys with them standing right there??

chippewa · Post by **chippewa** » November 12, 2007 10:09 am

Like AF, I've paid on nights the women got in free but I've never seen it the other way around. Just last weekend, even.

It doesn't seem right to charge you after you've been there, and especially if you're not drinking. Seems like they could give the drinkers a wristband or something to identify that they paid.

carey24 · Post by **carey24** » November 12, 2007 10:16 am

chippewa wrote:Like AF, I've paid on nights the women got in free but I've never seen it the other way around. Just last weekend, even.

It doesn't seem right to charge you after you've been there, and especially if you're not drinking. Seems like they could give the drinkers a wristband or something to identify that they paid.

Oh they had wristbands! That made it even worse. It wasn't like they couldn't distinguish the payors from the non-payors.

SchoolGirlHeart · Post by **SchoolGirlHeart** » November 12, 2007 10:19 am

carey24 wrote:
chippewa wrote:Like AF, I've paid on nights the women got in free but I've never seen it the other way around. Just last weekend, even.

It doesn't seem right to charge you after you've been there, and especially if you're not drinking. Seems like they could give the drinkers a wristband or something to identify that they paid.
Oh they had wristbands! That made it even worse. It wasn't like they couldn't distinguish the payors from the non-payors.

I think I'd vote with my feet, and find another bar.... and let the manager know in a calm email or phone call, that he/she lost business over the mandatory gal's only cover. If he/she loses enough business to it, it'll change. OTOH, it might bring in business, and you may have to decide whether to go elsewhere or put up with it.

Dezdmona · Post by **Dezdmona** » November 12, 2007 10:25 am

Seems a Designated DRIVER wristband (and no charge for sodas..or "cover") would be a good PR move for the bar.

12vmanRick · Post by **12vmanRick** » November 12, 2007 10:28 am

I would have asked for a manager and bitched about it right then.

Moonie · Post by **Moonie** » November 12, 2007 10:44 am

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:
AlbatrossFlyer wrote:you should see the brouhaha here in town with a nightclub in scottsdale. the club has offended the transgender crowd after the the club 86'd them when the female patrons complained about the "women with outdoor plumbing" using the women's restroom.
I don't get why that's such a big deal.... They're in a stall for crying out loud... we have unisex bathrooms at home and no one gets stupid about it...

they leave the seat up? or..sprinkle on the seat?

AlbatrossFlyer wrote:one club i go to doesn't have a mirror over the sinks. it's an open hole into the other restroom. it's a trip until you get used to it.

get used to it? why don't they fix it?...I'm guessing this isn't a 5 star club?

AlbatrossFlyer · Post by **AlbatrossFlyer** » November 12, 2007 11:16 am

Moonie wrote: get used to it? why don't they fix it?...I'm guessing this isn't a 5 star club?

perhaps hole isn't the right word. it's an opening.....

it's a high end trendy club, and is was designed that way on purpose. the 2 restrooms are mirror images of each other and you basically can only see the sink area of the 2 restrooms. on first glance you probably won't notice the opening unless someone is visible on the other side and even then it doesn't initially register since it's so unexpected.