I’ve heard of people doing this (even while they are still there with the drink next to them) to prevent date-rape drugs being dropped into their drinks, but I have no idea if that’s true or if true, how widespread.
They do indeed. And lots of people have taken to drawing on them creating both art and new phrases. On one of the windows looking into the barrel room behind the bar they’ve got a whole mess of them on display. Some really talented people out there. Maybe I’ll take a pic this weekend.
On topic -
It’s not new, I’ve seen it before, but I’ve never really done it myself until RRBC. Mostly because it’s not the wisest practice for a single woman out on the town.
I do it at RRBC because I trust the staff and half of the clientèle to kind of watch my back, and I’m rarely there alone anyway. It’s pretty much the only place I do it. And it means, “I’m not done with my drink/someone is sitting here/BRB/etc.”
In Chicago at least (perhaps in other places?), if you need another drink you put your empty on the “rail”, which is a lowered track on the bartender’s side of the bar. If you do this, the bartender knows automatically that you want another of the same.
yea, we did this in California at my local bar. Or you just motioned to him with your glass (if you weren’t quite done but getting there and saw he had a spare moment) and he’d know.
As for teh coaster thing, we always used to do that, I’m only 25 mind you, so I don’ t know how long it’s been going on. Definitely not to prevent date rape drugs, at least not that I’ve noticed. Much more for the “I’ll brb, just in the bathroom/outside having a smoke. Don’t clear my drink”
My friends and I have been doing this since the smoking ban in Maryland. Not very original, but also a good way to say ‘this seat is taken’ during a very crowded happy hour and bar seating is prime real estate. 'Cuz we get hooked up from our fave beerslingers.
Although, I don’t go out much now since the smoking ban. I can smoke at home and drink cheap beer.