A woman named Kailee Marie, who uses the TikTok username @kkaileemarie, said she did not expect to be charged more for her second drink than her first when she placed another order at the same bar. The difference was that she had another bartender the second time.
She shared a TikTok video showing herself sipping a drink through a straw while sitting in the sun, with on-screen text explaining what happened. The text on the video, which has garnered 203,500 views, reads, “I got the same drink from the same bar but the male bartender charged me $11 and the female bartender charged me $13? Is this normal?”
She later explained what happened in an Instagram direct message, saying, “[I] just thought it would be a funny TikTok and a coincidence that the man charged me less than the woman did. The venue was very nice, and the staff were friendly, so I never confronted them while they were working. They were very busy, and I would have rather gone about my day than take away their time.”
Her post sparked a broader discussion about bartending practices, including why identical drinks may be priced differently.
Social media users shared their opinions, with one writing, “As someone in the service industry, sometimes we are in a rush and accidentally undercharge someone, or we decide not to ring up part of the order because we felt like helping someone out, and you happened to be there at the right time and were polite.”
Others echoed the sentiment. One user wrote, “The dude gave you a discount. Don’t get him in trouble.” Some commenters suggested the price difference may have resulted from different types of alcohol being used.
As one user explained, “Probably charged you for the cheaper alcohol and the other gave you a mid or top shelf.” Another added, “Bartender here: They may have used different liquors. The first one might have used a well liquor, and the girl used top shelf, but that should have been communicated.”
The price difference due to varying alcohol types appears logical. Drink prices may also vary depending on how they are prepared.
However, as some users noted, pricing can also come down to the bartender’s discretion. Because Kailee did not clarify the discrepancy with the bartenders who served her, the exact reason remains unclear.