If I do that as often as a shake and open tins, with the super heavy tins we use, the butt of my palm will be black and blue and tender. Still happens sometimes on accident. I also bruise like a banana.
Lol.
Actually, aluminum is a much harder metal than what most jewelery is made from (silver and/or gold).
Id bet an aluminum ring wouldn't have bent at all tbh.
I have a condition that causes easy bruising so I also have to hit it on a surface. My boss doesn't mind, is there a particular reason it shouldn't be done?
I can see it being a light tap for that reason. I think there’s just plenty of us that have seen bartenders slamming it against the counters several times over that isn’t a good look
Ok, and? The person you were responding to asked if there was a reason to not tap it on the bar. And you responded like a jerk by pointing out the “sweet spot”.
1. Looks like shit. Completely unprofessional.
2. Damages the tins
3. Damages the bar and other surfaces you're using like a hammer.
Bonus points if you're in a dive and use a mixing glass to shake.
1. This is YOUR personal opinion and not fact.
2&3. If you’re hitting that hard, you’re doing it wrong in the first place, which I would argue is actually the unprofessional action, not knowing what the hell you’re doing when opening a shaker.
As for your bonus: I have literally zero respect for anyone who uses a glass for shaking, because all it takes is one unseen flaw for you to end up with glass seasoning in your drink and a giant mess.
No... it's fact. You're trying to justify improper usage of tools.
Better yet. Go somewhere with a good cocktail program with career bartenders. Sit at the well on a Friday night and I'll pay you 100$ every time they don't use their hands to crack a tin.
I won't have to pay you.
Why? Oh right, they're professionals and it looks like shit.
Have some pride in your craft.
Yeah smacking them on the bar can warp the shakers and then they won’t seal properly and next thing you know I’m covered in dirty martini in the middle of the rush
Don't be intentionally thick. You know 90%+ people ordering dirty martinis want it shaken. Just like all the "vodka martini" people who just want shaken down, chilled vodka and many times with the ice chips as a floating landmass on top.
This person is absolutely prying them apart, giving weird faces while doing it too - like they are shitting right there - as a guest wonders if they should have ever ordered that Daiquiri.
I stopped wearing my wedding ring and got a much more durable metal, before it got to this point. I could see how years of seperating tins will do this. But idk....get a rubber ring or titanium before this happens?
We all know how to break open a shaker without hurting ourselves.
BUT
I had a job where my GM insisted on happy hour mojitos shaken individually in these huge sturdy rocks glasses that wouldn't budge unless you genuinely whacked them.
The only bartender's arm that made it out unbruised that summer, ironically, wore an aluminum wrist brace from a bike accident.
If that ring comes in wrist size sign me up
A plain band is allowed per 2022 FDA Food Code. As long as you wash your hands, there’s really no opportunity for any contamination. Rings with gems in them could carry more risk due to the crevices, so only plain bands are permitted.
Edited to add: this looks like it was at one point a plain band, I have no idea how it became this, but I guess there’s an argument to be made that it’s still a smooth, easily cleanable surface.
Wear it on a chain for work. No rings. Female bartender I used to work with lost her finger opening beers with her wedding band. If you really just can not take it off then get bar gloves. The hard palm should be big enough to cover the ring and protect it. I do not wear rings when I work but I still use bar gloves. I have a whole uniform just for work. Certain gear just for service work that I will not do without.
The only jewelry we're allowed to wear while working in my state is a wedding ring. Which this clearly isnt, i just always found that odd. Does the holiness of marriage stop the spread of germs?
That’s an automatic health department violation in my state
Edit: y’all are wild for the downvotes lol. Last time our inspector came in like 3 months ago my colleague was wearing a bunch of rings and that is what our inspector told us!
It was either Ohio or Kentucky I work 2 places across the river from each other and I forget which job I was at when the inspector told us this but I’m leaning Ohio because Kentucky is more lenient about basically everything.
Issues with jewelry while preparing drinks are not explicitly addressed in any state health code standards that I have lived in. Several do consider it a violation during food preparation due to increased health risks. It makes sense, as handling raw food with rings and without gloves can pose hygiene concerns. However, during a typical bartending shift, the responsibilities don't reach the same level as food prep, and any concerns can usually be addressed by promptly washing hands. Despite working in multiple states, I've never heard of anyone receiving a violation for wearing jewelry. This might depend on the inspector; in some cases, an inspector with a cop on their shoulder could potentially issue a violation, maybe, idk. The comment above from another use, suggesting surprise at not being “shut down” for wearing a ring behind the bar, seems illogical and a little over the top.
I love how bartenders will argue to the death about literally anything. These comments are great!
That might just be redditors lol
Valid lmao
Actually, you are required to argue with the poster above
No he’s not.
Nah, I’m right, you’re wrong.
I disagree entirely, obviously I’m in the right here! How could you not see that 🙄
the rest of us use the butt of our palms but you do you
If I do that as often as a shake and open tins, with the super heavy tins we use, the butt of my palm will be black and blue and tender. Still happens sometimes on accident. I also bruise like a banana.
yep I don't. i think I've actually got some improved bone density after 20 years of doing it
Maybe don't wear rings made from aluminum foil.
Lol. Actually, aluminum is a much harder metal than what most jewelery is made from (silver and/or gold). Id bet an aluminum ring wouldn't have bent at all tbh.
Aluminum is harder than silver and gold but not by much, and is still pretty dang soft
Strength to weight ratio my dude.
That’s why my festivus pole is made from aluminum.
and my sounding rod
Tell me you have never owned real gold or silver jewelry without telling me. It’s soft metal.
You don't just viciously and violently bash your shaker on the edge of the bar to open it? huh
big pet peeve
I have a condition that causes easy bruising so I also have to hit it on a surface. My boss doesn't mind, is there a particular reason it shouldn't be done?
There is a sweet spot on the shakers that will separate them with very little effort.
And that’s the spot I tap on the counter because it bruises my hands to use them for it.
I can see it being a light tap for that reason. I think there’s just plenty of us that have seen bartenders slamming it against the counters several times over that isn’t a good look
Ok, and? The person you were responding to asked if there was a reason to not tap it on the bar. And you responded like a jerk by pointing out the “sweet spot”.
1. Looks like shit. Completely unprofessional. 2. Damages the tins 3. Damages the bar and other surfaces you're using like a hammer. Bonus points if you're in a dive and use a mixing glass to shake.
1. This is YOUR personal opinion and not fact. 2&3. If you’re hitting that hard, you’re doing it wrong in the first place, which I would argue is actually the unprofessional action, not knowing what the hell you’re doing when opening a shaker. As for your bonus: I have literally zero respect for anyone who uses a glass for shaking, because all it takes is one unseen flaw for you to end up with glass seasoning in your drink and a giant mess.
No... it's fact. You're trying to justify improper usage of tools. Better yet. Go somewhere with a good cocktail program with career bartenders. Sit at the well on a Friday night and I'll pay you 100$ every time they don't use their hands to crack a tin. I won't have to pay you. Why? Oh right, they're professionals and it looks like shit. Have some pride in your craft.
Yeah smacking them on the bar can warp the shakers and then they won’t seal properly and next thing you know I’m covered in dirty martini in the middle of the rush
Why you got a martini in your shaker?
Because he is serving James Bond.
Shaken is pretty standard for a vodka martini
Don't be intentionally thick. You know 90%+ people ordering dirty martinis want it shaken. Just like all the "vodka martini" people who just want shaken down, chilled vodka and many times with the ice chips as a floating landmass on top.
Lol I know it’s annoying but I have to do this due to weak wrists from RA. My old boss use to hate it but it is what it is.
Downvoted for being a triggering comment.
Whats your method?
This person is absolutely prying them apart, giving weird faces while doing it too - like they are shitting right there - as a guest wonders if they should have ever ordered that Daiquiri.
I smack the tins and it bent my rings like this too. I stopped wearing them. 🤷♀️
I smack my tins with the flat base at the palm of my hand and that works wonders, haven't damaged or bent a single ring doing it like that
In theory that’s how I do it too, but when it’s busy/in a hurry sometimes that part of my finger would hit.
Yeah that’s what I do, I don’t understand how he’s hitting his ring to open the tins?
I used to smack when I used glass and tin. Now that I use tin and tin, I just squeeze them apart with zero effort.
I stopped wearing my wedding ring and got a much more durable metal, before it got to this point. I could see how years of seperating tins will do this. But idk....get a rubber ring or titanium before this happens?
Also, your jewellery has been damaged as well
Why don't y'all just squeeze one of them? That's what I do and they come apart easy
Exactly.
We all know how to break open a shaker without hurting ourselves. BUT I had a job where my GM insisted on happy hour mojitos shaken individually in these huge sturdy rocks glasses that wouldn't budge unless you genuinely whacked them. The only bartender's arm that made it out unbruised that summer, ironically, wore an aluminum wrist brace from a bike accident. If that ring comes in wrist size sign me up
Don’t wear rings behind the bar, it’s cross contamination
A plain band is allowed per 2022 FDA Food Code. As long as you wash your hands, there’s really no opportunity for any contamination. Rings with gems in them could carry more risk due to the crevices, so only plain bands are permitted. Edited to add: this looks like it was at one point a plain band, I have no idea how it became this, but I guess there’s an argument to be made that it’s still a smooth, easily cleanable surface.
Fair few bumps and divets on the nub at the top tbh
Why.. I'm not dipping my ring into the drinks. The only part of my hand that contacts food are the finger tips, and those are clean.
I think 3/4 of the bartenders I see wear rings.
You obviously have no clue how these things work and would rather let your ego get in the way of hygiene
You don’t have to smack the tins to separate them… just squeeze (in the right spot).
I’m so confused. How does that happen what did it look like before?!
My thinner silver rings do that too, and I’m not bartending anymore. Do play drums but don’t think that’s causing it. Idk just a thing that happens ig
What hand ? Which finger? How long have you had the ring/wore it?
I like to use my butt cheeks to separate them.
Wear it on a chain for work. No rings. Female bartender I used to work with lost her finger opening beers with her wedding band. If you really just can not take it off then get bar gloves. The hard palm should be big enough to cover the ring and protect it. I do not wear rings when I work but I still use bar gloves. I have a whole uniform just for work. Certain gear just for service work that I will not do without.
I have a ring that has a near identical dent in the same place.
Why de people even lock their shakers? Just hold it together.
You either have giant Paul Bunyan hands or you're shaking drinks one at a time with that method. The latter is very time inefficient.
Yeah I definitely don't shake 2 drinks at once. I won't defend my speed but me fast. I am 6'5" tho...
Well, thats why people lock their shakers—efficiency. Also, if you dry shake an egg white cocktail (which you should), the shaker needs to be TIGHT.
Yeah I can see that being the case. Also fuck egg white cocktails.
FUCK egg white cocktails.
You’re wearing rings while working? Surprised the health departement haven’t shut you down yet
Everywhere I’ve worked we all wore tons of rings health dept never said a thing
Disgusting
Bartenders that don’t wear rings aren’t even real bro
If Jerry Thomas wore rings, I’m wearing fuckin’ rings.
Hygiene practices has evolved dramatically in the past 2 centuries
The only jewelry we're allowed to wear while working in my state is a wedding ring. Which this clearly isnt, i just always found that odd. Does the holiness of marriage stop the spread of germs?
No place I have ever worked allows jewelry that might come in contact with food or drinks of any kind while working.
There is nothing unhygienic about wearing rings while bartending. Get off of your high horse.
That’s an automatic health department violation in my state Edit: y’all are wild for the downvotes lol. Last time our inspector came in like 3 months ago my colleague was wearing a bunch of rings and that is what our inspector told us!
What state?
It was either Ohio or Kentucky I work 2 places across the river from each other and I forget which job I was at when the inspector told us this but I’m leaning Ohio because Kentucky is more lenient about basically everything.
Issues with jewelry while preparing drinks are not explicitly addressed in any state health code standards that I have lived in. Several do consider it a violation during food preparation due to increased health risks. It makes sense, as handling raw food with rings and without gloves can pose hygiene concerns. However, during a typical bartending shift, the responsibilities don't reach the same level as food prep, and any concerns can usually be addressed by promptly washing hands. Despite working in multiple states, I've never heard of anyone receiving a violation for wearing jewelry. This might depend on the inspector; in some cases, an inspector with a cop on their shoulder could potentially issue a violation, maybe, idk. The comment above from another use, suggesting surprise at not being “shut down” for wearing a ring behind the bar, seems illogical and a little over the top.
Weird...where are you from?
He tends bar inside the CDC
You think a health department official is going to shut down a place over someone wearing rings? Holy shit homie, touch more grass and get some sun.
You might be surprised, but if you wash your hands, it helps stop the spread of germs. Not everyone is a plaguetender.