Money and Beer - what would you have done ?

Money and Beer - what would you have done ?

Author
Discussion

Robertuk

Original Poster:

591 posts

269 months

Thursday 26th June 2003
quotequote all
Hi all,

I was in a local bar, in Clapham London a couple of weeks ago. Initally there were four of us but this grew to about seven after an hour.

Anyway, as I got the second round and was handed my change a coin slipped into one of the pints.

The lady serving hesitated, then was about to throw
the pint when the manager passing by asked what was wrong. She explained, he then turned to me and said :

"You don't mind the coin at the bottom of your pint, do you ?"

I replied I wasn't sure, it was'nt my drink.
He said it was usual policy not to throw the pint .
I was perplexed, so I asked for it to be poured into a new glass. Walked away and never drank that pint.
I rarely drink alcohol, and despite being in my late 20's have not been in this situation before.
(I am a regular pub/bar visitor though - all my friends+family do.)

What would you have done ?

Is this acceptable/normal ?

I was only visiting this place as my regular (Pitcher & Piano) has closed down.
Shame, great place+people+food !

Your comments ....

Guy Humpage

12,046 posts

291 months

Thursday 26th June 2003
quotequote all
You would have thought the landlord would have made a big show of pouring a fresh pint, and then slipping the 'soiled' pint (sans coin) onto some poor unsuspecting punter a few minutes later.

It could have been worse, he could have fished the money out with his grubby fingers and then presented you with the drink.

eric mc

122,855 posts

272 months

Thursday 26th June 2003
quotequote all
Definitely would have asked for a replacement pint. If one of the bar staff dropped the coin, you would have been fully entitled to a new pint or your money back (shades of Victor Kayam there - sorry). If YOU had dropped the coin in, then the bar man would have been under no obligation to replace the drink, but out of courtesy should have done so anyway. The loss of profit on that individual drink will be totally swamped by loss of custom - if you bother to inform your friends of the poor service you received.

Mark.S

473 posts

284 months

Thursday 26th June 2003
quotequote all
Wouldn't be a recently refurbished bar with equally refurbished staff and manager would it? Resembles the opening scene from Blade on a sunday night?

Robertuk

Original Poster:

591 posts

269 months

Thursday 26th June 2003
quotequote all
yep refurbished !

went from a trendy bar to a moe traditional english pub . shame really as I liked the fact that they put on the stella tennis when i requested.

on a more dire note,
I just read online that 13% (percent) of coins have ....err food that has passed through the body shall we say. Notes are even worse.

Generally its ok for healthy people, but if you have a medical condition germs could be bad.

I'm going to get a glove for use in pubs
maybe I'll moonwalk inside as well.
(I can actually moonwalk - but thats another story)

Hates_

778 posts

260 months

Thursday 26th June 2003
quotequote all
Robertuk said:
maybe I'll moonwalk inside as well.
(I can actually moonwalk - but thats another story)

Robertuk

Original Poster:

591 posts

269 months

Sunday 29th June 2003
quotequote all
Thanks all,

I may print this out and show the manager what
a section of the public would have thought was normal.

Hope everyone has a great sunday !

jvaughan

6,025 posts

290 months

Wednesday 2nd July 2003
quotequote all
Having worked in pubs for a few years, and then into the Public Health Scene, I have always maintained that money is the transmission medium for a whole host of nasties .. germs ... bugs .. lurgie.

Take for instance .. CHickenPox .. someone suffering spends money in a shop, hands over infected money, it gets put in a draw with more infected money, then given out as change to all who visit. They then do the same, touching it ...

how about not washing hands when going to the loo. I can think of a whole load of Bacteria that would be on yoru hands ... handle money and you have an excellent distribution medium (even contains sugar to promote growth!).. drop it in a pint to ingest the germs orally ... 24/48 hours later symptoms of food poisoning (obviously this is the most extreme example, but if the bar person was responsible for dropping the money in a pint, I usually expect it to be replaced, and if you explain this little tale to any publican.. mention public health it usually gets the desired response).

you decide though ...

>> Edited by jvaughan on Wednesday 2nd July 11:38

amg merc

11,954 posts

260 months

Thursday 3rd July 2003
quotequote all
Robertuk said:
Hi all,

I was in a local bar, in Clapham London a couple of weeks ago. Initally there were four of us but this grew to about seven after an hour.

Anyway, as I got the second round and was handed my change a coin slipped into one of the pints.

The lady serving hesitated, then was about to throw
the pint when the manager passing by asked what was wrong. She explained, he then turned to me and said :

"You don't mind the coin at the bottom of your pint, do you ?"

I replied I wasn't sure, it was'nt my drink.
He said it was usual policy not to throw the pint .
I was perplexed, so I asked for it to be poured into a new glass. Walked away and never drank that pint.
I rarely drink alcohol, and despite being in my late 20's have not been in this situation before.
(I am a regular pub/bar visitor though - all my friends+family do.)

What would you have done ?

Is this acceptable/normal ?

I was only visiting this place as my regular (Pitcher & Piano) has closed down.
Shame, great place+people+food !

Your comments ....


Disgraceful behavour! I always choose bottled beer - less chance of contamination (once you've wiped the rim yourself - just in case!) - only problem I find is that most pubs/bars don't chill it enough first ...which brings me on to warm champagne - don't start me on that one!

BTW , I read somewhere once that EVERY dollar bill in circulation in the US is contaminated with Cocaine - or am I going off the original subject somewhat?!

Robertuk

Original Poster:

591 posts

269 months

Thursday 3rd July 2003
quotequote all
from now on I'm saying keep the change !

Seriously , I read that in certain countries where haggling is rife, money really gets contaminated.

Notes are worse than coins.

just had a thought - plastic in not safe either !
(I hand the till person my card and their hands handle the card and give it back!)

Oh dear - I'm going to open my own pub with specials:

*Ramesh's Specials*

1.) Free 50 % pint voucher for anyone who washes their hands after using the toilets.

How will I know ? easy - Have you seen the number of attendants in Clapham , you know the chaps who hand you a tissue, mint, then collect a pound ?
I'll hand them vouchers, everyone who washes their hands will receive one.
Also maybe Unisex toilets, guys are more likely to wash if there are ladies watching (ancient survival instinct - look at me I'm healthy and clean . suitable partner for off-spring )


also maybe ...

2.) Free pint for anyone who mentions Pistonheads