Bartenders use a special number to let colleagues know there's an attractive customer at the bar

There's nothing worse on a night out than when the music is so stupidly loud that it makes it near impossible to have a conversation with your mates.

It does make you wonder how difficult it must be for staff to communicate with one another.

However, it turns out that there is such a thing as a 'bartenders code' that often helps workers get through a busy shift.

For important messages, there is a handy shortcut code, either to let others know about when something's run out (86) or if there's a customer waiting (200).

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For even more important messages, such as there being a very attractive customer at the bar, there's a code for that too.

A thread on Reddit saw bartenders flock to the comments to discuss which shorthand terms they use.

U/joshintheuk revealed: "A while ago I was told of a 'bartenders code' which consisted of various numbers that were used to represent things on the bar either secretly or quickly between staff.

"Things like '86', meaning to be a ran out of product, '200' meaning a customer waiting, '50' meaning to catch, and '700' to refer to an attractive customer.

"It seems like a pretty fun and useful thing to get my staff doing, and I was wondering if anyone knew any more or had a different/more comprehensive list of expressions?"

Another user jumped in to say that they used a slightly different code for good-looking customers, saying '699' meant 'hottie at the bar'.

While '700' stood for 'probably hottest girl in the building is at the bar'.

Incidentally, they said they also used 'Barry White' as slang for 'going for a s****'.

Another said they used '300' to identify an 'attractive lady', but said '300 high' if they could see... a 'big ol' pair of boobies'.

Others said they had an entire scale to denote attractiveness, explaining: "First number is face on a scale of 0-9, second number is either 0 or 1 (would or wouldn't) and last number is body.

"So 719 is pretty damn good and a 303 looks like your grandfather."

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Thankfully, not everyone uses coded language to discuss how attractive a customer at the bar is, with some offering up other, slightly nicer examples.

Some said there were ways of letting staff know it was time for a round of shots, with one person saying their manager always asked for a 'quick word please'.

Another said: "Actually, 'staff meeting' behind the bar means shots. I'm the GM at a sports bar and nightclub and I call for staff meetings on busy nights when it looks like my staff is about to lose it.

"Everyone normally pours themselves a quick shot or I pour all the shots and we air cheers and keep on plugging away at the crowd of drunken idiots."

Topics: Reddit, Food And Drink

Anish Vij

Anish is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2024 finalist. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

@Anish_Vij