I bailed on bars right about the time those fuckheads out in Montauk invented "bottle service." That, right there, was a capitulation of the art of bartending - so much so that the people who still could decided they were "mixologists" and magnified their douchebaggery by a factor of ten. Fact of the matter is, at an "upscale" bar you pay $18 for a double of Maker's. Same double is $7 at a dive bar. That's an increase of $11 on something that has a raw cost of approximately $2 to start with. And you know what? If I'm charging some asshole $7 for a Newcastle, he can hem and haw all he wants about "eclipse amber" or some shit. I'm making $1 or $2 for pulling the handle on that one and the bar is making $4 for the labor equivalent of playing a slot machine; I can STFU about my patrons.
Rule the roost with less d-bags - $125 a night
Put up with d-bags - $200 a night These are made up figures from 2002 btw. My point is when the shit hits the fan and you're potentially "in the weeds", it may be an easier scenario in the dive bar. Bottle service, well that's a whole different world that I've only once partook in and left feeling slimy as hell but with a group of 4 twenty something girls at our sides. (shhhh, what happens in vegas..) -$800 for a bottle of Kettle One. WTF???! The things you'll do for your brother at his bachelor party!