I think if everyone else in your party ordered drinks and everyone ordered food then you’re fine.

Anonymous wrote:Are you English OP? were/are "sat" at the bar is a very English way of stating things (and one that their grammarians frown at as well, but that's another thread).

Best advice in America- the bartender probably did not care at all about the tip. At all. they were probably more annoyed about providing food service at a busy bar and the iced tea is all the way over in a pitcher near the waitress station or something.

? DP, southern American and I would say “was sat at the bar”.

No.

Poor service, I would dock the tip.

Are you English OP? were/are "sat" at the bar is a very English way of stating things (and one that their grammarians frown at as well, but that's another thread).

Best advice in America- the bartender probably did not care at all about the tip. At all. they were probably more annoyed about providing food service at a busy bar and the iced tea is all the way over in a pitcher near the waitress station or something.

It’s possible they have a minimum charge so if you were just going to get the tea he would have to charge you more to justify the cost of your seat?

Anonymous wrote:You were fine. There is no obligation to order alcohol at a bar as long as you are spending money/ordering food.

Bars and restaurants are going to have to adjust. Gen Z and millennials drink a lot less than Boomers and Gen X. There's the prevalence of weed. And a greater understanding that alcohol is essentially a sledgehammer to every organ in your body. More and more people are lightening up on their drinking or foregoing it all together. But bars remain an essential third space for people to meet and socialize. A good bar will have mocktails and will make non-drinkers feel welcome.

Nobody asked to be seated at the bar. OP ordered iced tea. Definitely tip less due to the face.

You weren't imagining the pressure. A cocktail or glass of wine/beer is kind of like the rent you are expected to pay to sit at the bar. I have, in the past, ordered drinks I didn't want (I rarely drink alcohol) due to this pressure. I now order a bottle of sparkling water as my "rent."

Not everyone can drink alcohol, OP, surely you and the bartender realize this. Some people (especially in Asian populations) can't tolerate it. Some take meds that don't go with alcohol. Some are recovering alcoholics. Some people are pregnant. Some people have a religious objection. Finally, some just don't like the taste.

If he made a face, that's his problem, not yours.

I would have tipped less after that face

You were fine. There is no obligation to order alcohol at a bar as long as you are spending money/ordering food.

That's ridiculous. He was just worried about his tip.

I am not going to have a drink based on where I sit. I make my own choices. I tip well too, but you were fine.

I went to an upscale packed restaurant and we didn’t have reservations. We were a party of 3. We were sat at the bar because there were no tables. The other 2 each ordered a cocktail and I just wanted iced tea. A waiter, not a bartender(when never spoke to us the whole night), stood behind us to take our entire order but made a face like I just insulted his whole family when I said I wanted iced tea to drink. He then proceeded to ask if I planned on ordering food which I did (a $40 fish dish). We were only sitting at the bar because they had no tables and that’s where the hostess sat us. Plus 2 others in my party were drinking and they bought 2 drinks each. What’s the etiquette here?