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MargaretDumont t1_j4p3mli wrote

Reply to comment by AgedParmy in Single file line for a drink at AS220 by AgedParmy

I do not think it's more efficient.

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Diligent-Pizza8128 t1_j4r2xd9 wrote

I agree. It feels more “fair” to line up but I’ve always found that people take their time moving out of the front of the line once served. They’re signing the credit card receipt, putting their wallet away, etc. No line means the bartender can just move on to the next customer without waiting for them to move.

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eightbitbrain t1_j4ps13v wrote

Think about it. Yes it is. With people spread out at the bar, a bartender doesn't know if you're just sitting out waiting to order and they also don't know what order you arrived in, so you might be the second person "in line" but keep getting passed over because they're taking care of the people who are leaning into the bar without a seat.

It's similarly inefficient to the way Dunkin workers refuse to use the order number printed on every receipt. Instead, they announce "egg and cheese" or "coffee extra extra" as if literally everyone in the joint doesn't order those things and then freak out when the wrong person claims the item.

Lining up at a bar is maybe unexpected, and it definitely gums up the room (but not the bar), but it is absolutely NOT inefficient.

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solariam t1_j4q08qk wrote

Meh, when I was tending bar, if I was getting rocked and could talk to the next customer I would take their order as I made a drink. Can't do that really with a line.

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eightbitbrain t1_j4q6x2s wrote

what you're describing is creating a line because people see that whoever is nearby to who you're currently serving gets served next because it's convenient for you, so they all queue up in that area. the only difference is they might be to the right or left or wherever they can fit

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solariam t1_j4qpf0r wrote

Well, not really, because bartenders mostly notice the order in which people arrive, and I have a neck that can swivel 180 degrees, enabling me to address different people. The only line it creates is a horizontal one in front of the well/taps, which does not create a long tail that disrupts the barroom. I also can take orders as I run drinks to other parts of the bar.

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MargaretDumont t1_j4px63p wrote

A bartender usually knows what order you arrived in. When you get passed over it might make you wait longer but it is not inefficient for the bartender. And they know you're waiting for a drink because you're looking at them waiting for something.

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eightbitbrain t1_j4q46zi wrote

"usually" is the key word. With a line, there's no guesswork

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MargaretDumont t1_j4q4qqn wrote

Again, you might occasionally get passed over and have to wait slightly longer as a patron, but for the bartender doing this night after night it's much more efficient.

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eightbitbrain t1_j4q6iyr wrote

Tell me how

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MargaretDumont t1_j4q7bpo wrote

They wait on more than one person at a time. The line prevents them from being able to do that their way. A bartender might get 3 orders and start the one that makes the most sense to start first, do something else while the head is going down on a beer etc. While waiting for you to gather up your wallet and drink and get out of the way they're talking to 3 more people to your left. They don't go from order to change one person at a time while they bartend. It would take much longer.

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eightbitbrain t1_j4qxbgt wrote

Thanks, that makes sense. I guess I just have that "fuck this guy in particular" look to me that gets me ignored

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Proof-Variation7005 t1_j4qrfmd wrote

A bartender can serve five customers getting bottles or cans in the time it takes to serve one Guinness. Not to mention the difference between people keeping open tabs vs the people who are closing after each drink.

Lines encourage one at a time and it fucks up a system that’s worked fine since the invention of bars.

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radioflea t1_j4r31bg wrote

Every industry is short staffed, if they didn’t have many staff behind the bar then a single line would be better than having a dozen people around the bar.

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