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At 32 years old, I am not all that far removed from Gen Z. The internet describes members of Gen Z as those born between 1997 and 2012 (we really need to shrink these categories). So had I been born five years later, I would have been a part of the group that I am about to excoriate. Sorry, kids!
But the difference between Millenials (1981-1996) and Gen Z is often glaring, as I learned talking to my to 24-year-old cousin over Thanksgiving. Perhaps the most shocking aspect, it appears, is that Zoomers just don’t seem to understand how to open a bar tab.
Back in June of 2023, New York Times writer Willy Staley went viral when he posted a tweet about Gen Z bargoers paying for rounds with their cards and closing out after each round.
At the bar last night, the Zoomers were all paying with credit cards and closing out on every round. This is psycho behavior. Someone needs to teach these children how to go to the bar.
— willy 🌜💧 (@willystaley) July 14, 2023
That feels…unnecessary. But Staley immediately got blowback, particularly from a British TikToker who stated that in other countries, they never run a tab (sorry that the rest of the world is wrong.)
Well, Haley, this is America, and we open bar tabs! Unless, of course, you’re a member of Gen Z. And you may think to yourself, “hey, this isn’t true of every Zoomers, just the ones in your example.”
But it appears to have happened again!
You thought I was lying about the Zoomers and their bar tabs. They don’t even know it’s weird! https://t.co/Ych9v4KFpH
— willy 🌜💧 (@willystaley) December 2, 2024
Twitter user @NickWoj98 posted a picture of his card statement with the caption “I am never drinking again.” The picture showed over $400 spent across eight transactions in one night at a bar in Wrigleyville.
Staley, of course, caught wind of this and quote tweeted it, saying “You thought I was lying about the Zoomers and their bar tabs. They don’t even know it’s weird!”
By now, you may be asking yourself “why does it even matter?”
Well, there are two main reasons. For one, keeping a tab open makes life much easier on your bartender as they can continue to, y’know, tend the bar rather than take time closing you out every single time. Secondly, you will save money! If you keep a tab open, you won’t feel compelled to over-tip every single time you decide to be a pain in a–. Instead, you can just tip at the end! Like a normal adult!
I am just trying to look out for the youth in this situation. You are getting swindled out of money and making life more difficult for bar staff. Get your acts together!