Why Is It Called a Bar Tab? Understanding the Term and Its Origin

Discover the origin of the term 'bar tab' and what it signifies in social settings. Learn more about running accounts at bars.

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A bar tab refers to the running account of drinks or food consumed and paid for later. Historically, bars would keep a written tabulation (or 'tab') of the customer's orders to total at the end of the visit. The term signifies this tallying process.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What does a bar tab mean? A bar tab is a running account that tracks the drinks or food consumed at a bar, to be paid at a later time.
  2. How does a bar tab work? Bars keep a record of your orders, allowing you to pay for them all at once at the end of your visit.
  3. What is the history behind bar tabs? The term 'bar tab' comes from the practice of tallying a customer's order in writing for payment after they finish their visit.