Toby Howell

Also, tap to pay has become so ubiquitous that buying around falls into the same muscle memory as buying your morning coffee. Mainly, though, they don't like carrying around that extra mental weight. It increases anxiety in me when I leave a tab open, a 26-year-old beer sales rep told the Times. If we want to move somewhere else, it's a lot harder to close out and then leave."

Also, tap to pay has become so ubiquitous that buying around falls into the same muscle memory as buying your morning coffee. Mainly, though, they don't like carrying around that extra mental weight. It increases anxiety in me when I leave a tab open, a 26-year-old beer sales rep told the Times. If we want to move somewhere else, it's a lot harder to close out and then leave."

Also, tap to pay has become so ubiquitous that buying around falls into the same muscle memory as buying your morning coffee. Mainly, though, they don't like carrying around that extra mental weight. It increases anxiety in me when I leave a tab open, a 26-year-old beer sales rep told the Times. If we want to move somewhere else, it's a lot harder to close out and then leave."

You know, the business angle of this is that Gen Z actually is drinking less than previous generations, with a 2023 Gallup poll showing a 10 point decline over the past few decades in the share of 18 to 34 year olds who report consuming alcohol. So the reticence to an open tab is downstream of that. But also maybe they're just shy. What do you think of this shift in bar etiquette, Neil?

You know, the business angle of this is that Gen Z actually is drinking less than previous generations, with a 2023 Gallup poll showing a 10 point decline over the past few decades in the share of 18 to 34 year olds who report consuming alcohol. So the reticence to an open tab is downstream of that. But also maybe they're just shy. What do you think of this shift in bar etiquette, Neil?

You know, the business angle of this is that Gen Z actually is drinking less than previous generations, with a 2023 Gallup poll showing a 10 point decline over the past few decades in the share of 18 to 34 year olds who report consuming alcohol. So the reticence to an open tab is downstream of that. But also maybe they're just shy. What do you think of this shift in bar etiquette, Neil?

Does Gen Z have a point or do they need to loosen up a little bit?

Does Gen Z have a point or do they need to loosen up a little bit?

Does Gen Z have a point or do they need to loosen up a little bit?

That's fair. It is on brand for Gen Z, though, because one, they think that it mentally just stops them from getting too carried away on a night out because every time you have to pay and then close out, that's another drink that's hitting just your mind, essentially. Like, you know it's a very conscious action rather than just having this amorphous tab open.

That's fair. It is on brand for Gen Z, though, because one, they think that it mentally just stops them from getting too carried away on a night out because every time you have to pay and then close out, that's another drink that's hitting just your mind, essentially. Like, you know it's a very conscious action rather than just having this amorphous tab open.

That's fair. It is on brand for Gen Z, though, because one, they think that it mentally just stops them from getting too carried away on a night out because every time you have to pay and then close out, that's another drink that's hitting just your mind, essentially. Like, you know it's a very conscious action rather than just having this amorphous tab open.

And if you are trying to drink less and if you're trying to be more budget conscious, those are two factors that do lead to this sort of behavior. That tap to card moment too is something they don't even, a lot of people don't even go out with their credit cards. They still, they just use fully Apple pay. And that is kind of something that comes downstream of the pandemic, this behavior.

And if you are trying to drink less and if you're trying to be more budget conscious, those are two factors that do lead to this sort of behavior. That tap to card moment too is something they don't even, a lot of people don't even go out with their credit cards. They still, they just use fully Apple pay. And that is kind of something that comes downstream of the pandemic, this behavior.

And if you are trying to drink less and if you're trying to be more budget conscious, those are two factors that do lead to this sort of behavior. That tap to card moment too is something they don't even, a lot of people don't even go out with their credit cards. They still, they just use fully Apple pay. And that is kind of something that comes downstream of the pandemic, this behavior.

So you can see where it arose from, whether you think it's good or bad. Neil falls in the bad category. So do most bartenders who, Honestly, they get confronted by these hordes of young people who haven't even thought about opening a tab. A lot of people say like, oh, I'll close it later. And they go, what do you mean you'll close it later? That's what a tab is. You either open it or close it.

So you can see where it arose from, whether you think it's good or bad. Neil falls in the bad category. So do most bartenders who, Honestly, they get confronted by these hordes of young people who haven't even thought about opening a tab. A lot of people say like, oh, I'll close it later. And they go, what do you mean you'll close it later? That's what a tab is. You either open it or close it.

So you can see where it arose from, whether you think it's good or bad. Neil falls in the bad category. So do most bartenders who, Honestly, they get confronted by these hordes of young people who haven't even thought about opening a tab. A lot of people say like, oh, I'll close it later. And they go, what do you mean you'll close it later? That's what a tab is. You either open it or close it.

Just tell me what to do. So some of these bartenders are saying like we have to politely bully these kids into figuring out what proper bar etiquette is because maybe they just didn't get that conditioning when the pandemic was going on. So just a fascinating generational difference. Let us know maybe in the comments or in emails where you fall on this because it is sort of a generational divide.

Just tell me what to do. So some of these bartenders are saying like we have to politely bully these kids into figuring out what proper bar etiquette is because maybe they just didn't get that conditioning when the pandemic was going on. So just a fascinating generational difference. Let us know maybe in the comments or in emails where you fall on this because it is sort of a generational divide.