A tab may work wonders for you and your friends if you’re planning to drink all night. Basically, a tab for a Tampa nightlife works like this: you open a tab, you order your drinks and you won’t have to pay for it every single time, everyone in your group can use the tab and order under it, and you will pay for the whole amount at the end of the night.
It is beneficial if you are low on cash and want to pay either with your debit card or your credit card. When you open a tab, instead of constantly bugging the bartender for your orders and payments, you can simply keep the drinks coming to your table and pay for them when the night finally ends. All you will have at the end of the night is a single receipt with all the drinks printed on them. It’s genius!
Approach the bartender
If you plan to open a tab, approach the bartender as soon as you enter the bar or the pub. Check out the drinks they are offering—the cocktails, the mixes, and the specials. Do you really want to open the tab here? Or maybe somewhere else is better? Once you have decided to get the party started, it’s time to tell the bartender to open the tab under your name.
Tell him you want to open a tab
Bartenders are used to opening tabs, closing them, or serving every drink to your table and ringing it up individually (if you don’t open a tab). They would prefer if you have a tab open because it keeps their work easier and it allows them to just go about and focus on making your drinks rather than ringing every single drink that goes to your table.
Hand over your credit or debit card
This could cause quite a problem for some because a credit or debit card has a lot of personal information about you. That’s why it is always advisable to go to a bar where the bartender is either a friend or an acquaintance. This will make you feel more secure about handing over your card. It is necessary to hand over your credit card, so that you won’t have the opportunity to “forget” paying for your drinks when the night is finally over.
Start ordering your drinks
Once the tab is open, you’re ready to order your drinks. Make sure you specified to the bartender that only you or your group are allowed to order drinks under the tab you opened. Otherwise, other people may be compelled to fool you and make you pay for their drinks.