Mental Drinking

Why can't bar staff keep a mental tab of what you're ordering? And worse still - only do one drink at a time?

In my student days whilst helping out at my Dad's pub, Caw's in Dundee, Scotland, an average order on a 'three deep at the bar Saturday' would be the following.

"Three pints of 70/- (bitter) 2 pints of 80/- (best bitter), a pint of Tennants, 2 halves of Light (Mild) One Bells, a bottle of Export and 3 bags of Salt & Shake."

Whilst adding up all the time in my head, I would set the lager pouring, pull the two pints of 80/- get Bob Hepple, the High Priest of the 70/- (That's all he did - just pour pints) to do the other 3 pints. Switch off the lager. Pour the Bells whilst the 80/- was settling...etc etc.

Total order to completion time would be about 2 minutes. You try ordering a round like that in a pub today. (Mutter mutter.....)