A bartender from Columbus, Ohio has shared her trick for making extra money from customers who want drinks after the bar is closing. Sydney Bruder posted a video on TikTok where she talked about how she gets people to pay way more than normal for their last drink of the night. Her video got a lot of attention because many people could relate to being in that situation.
Bruder says she has a sassy personality at work and customers seem to like it when she gives them attitude. She explained that her trick works best when someone asks for another drink, even though last call has already happened. The whole thing depends on how you say it and the energy you bring, not on being mean or too nice.
When someone asks for one more shot after closing time, Bruder tells them “Sure, for 20 bucks” but she says it in a specific way, as per the TikTok video. She keeps her tone playful and fun while making eye contact and giving a small smile. She also warned that you cannot be too rude about it, but you also shouldn’t act too friendly. Find the right balance and act like you are doing them a favor.
It works out well for bartenders either way
Bruder explained that this approach works in her favor no matter what happens. If the customer says no and does not want to pay the extra money, then it does not matter because she was not going to serve them anyway. But if they really want that last drink badly enough, they will hand over $20 or even $50 or $100, depending on what she asks for. She says the trick is to remember that you have what they want and they need to pay for it.
Other bartenders in the comments said they do the same thing and some even charge $50 for drinks after hours. This happens because people who have been drinking all night are more likely to agree to pay a high prices if they really want one more round before going home.
People who study bars and drinking culture say bartenders do a lot more than just pour drinks. One bar manager named Jeffery Morgenthaler wrote that bars are special places where both customers and workers go to escape reality for a while.
He said being nice to customers should go both ways, which might explain why people are okay with paying extra when a bartender asks playfully. This kind of back and forth between bartenders and customers can lead to moments that are just as awkward as what happens at other social gatherings.
But there are some real problems with serving people after the last call happens. Almost every state has laws about what time bars need to stop selling alcohol. Bars usually let people have about 10 to 15 minutes after last call to buy and drink their final beverage. If bartenders keep serving after that, both they and the bar can get in serious legal trouble.
Most bartenders depend on tips to pay their bills because the base pay is low in many states, sometimes just $2.13 per hour. When you think about how little they make without tips, it makes sense why they would come up with smart ways to earn more during their shifts. While some viral videos warn people about party mistakes, this one struck a chord because almost everyone who goes to bars has been in this exact situation before.
Published: Nov 3, 2025 11:21 am