Expert: Paul Wagner - 11/20/2007

Question
It is a common policy that the last drink  from a bottle of booze if on the house while at a bar. Why do bars have this policy? The bar tender would not tell me, but said it use to be a law and that many bars today have the policy as tradition.

Answer
Hi Luke

Great question! There are two reasons for this tradition.  

1.  The last pour from a bottle may be a little bit too large or too small...and the bar doesn't want to have to negotiate that every time they finish a bottle.  This way, the customer never complains.

2.  Some customers would prefer a shot from a "fresh" bottle, rather than the last shot from a bottle that has been opened for what could be months.  This way, the customer doesn't complain about that, either!

Paul Wagner