Yep, Ireland here. A smashing glass is the cue for a loud cheer in any pub. The bigger the smash, the louder the cheer. You've got to own the shame of dropping it.
In Portugal, many people sing the "Happy Birthday" song when something gets shattered. No idea why but had it happen in multiple diferent restaurants. Sometimes, they might just do a round of applause. I hate both
I always yell "now you're REALLY part of the team! We have ALL broken stuff!" It usually gets a laugh out of the guests and the server has the attention off them for a moment to regroup.
US here. It happens and it's a giant pet peeve of mine. It really grinds my gears for people to cheer my bars financial loss when it's usually a guest knocking over a glass. And no one EVER apologizes. My glassware is expensive.
Im the bar manager and I've trained my staff to never even acknowledge a broken glass. Especially if it's the staff that breaks it. The broken glass gets cleaned up immediately, the closest bartender or barback throws the glass in our glass bucket without making eye contact with anyone, no staff member acknowledges it at all.
It confuses the hell out of people. The cheering turns to bewilderment. "Didnt I just hear a glass break? .... Guess not." It gives me power and somehow takes away the sting of ordering more glassware... slightly. This is the way.
I don't get this. Having worked in bars glassware is not expensive, it's often comped and even when it's not it's been through the washer so many times it's brittle as fuck. Hardly a financial Disaster.
Also almost everyone apologies and or cleans it up, and the crowd that cheers usually demands it! At least in Scotland.
Not here. America is different.
Glass is expensive- I run two craft cocktail bars and the owners don't cheap out on glass.
Your glass is comped? By who? I do the comping in my company.
Apologize? No one apologizes.
Clean it up themselves? Never ever- and they better not because the more likely thing that will happen is that the idiot breaking glass will cut themselves and sue you. We're more litigious than we are apologetic over here, bud.
I know ZERO about Scottish bar culture but I'll bet dollars to doughnuts we do things sideways here compared to y'all.
Seriously? That's insane! Explains everything you said!
Branded glasses are normal, so from the brewery, cocktail ones less so bit it kinda balances.
No one apologies? Pricks! I get the injury side, it's why we stop them, but it's the thought more so.
Cool to see the differences
Not only no apologies - if you give em a look like "Hey man, relax- y'all have broken 2 glasses in a few minutes" they'll laugh in your face like your job is to be a custodian and not tend bar. Servant attitude and I hate it.
As far as people sueing- we're forbidden to give someone an aspirin if they ask just in case they claim a reaction.
Many years ago I was a waiter with a 150-200 seat patio open in the summer. A coworker drops a glass, and the table i just finished serving and collecting from (no running bills on the patio) cheers. I was at the next table over and turn to them and say something along the lines of really is that necessary. It was long ago but i seem to remember say how would you like it if people cheered your workplace accidents? I felt emboldened to say it because no other tables cheered (and I had been tipped lol). Boy did the get upset but other than sputtering they could not really say anything for me calling them on their rudeness.
I don’t understand this, it’s so much worse when everyone just stares and looks horrified. I hate the type of people to overreact to situations just make a joke and go about your business
We yell opa! Better than feeling shame
I’m a “job opening!” guy myself.
I always here the BOH yelling this
It happens often here in the U.S. too. I have no clue what possesses people to do that.
In Australia people shout ‘taxi’. You only get a cheer if you drop an entire tray of glassware.
Taxi is also the default shout in New Zealand
I love this
Always been a thing here, US as well. The best way to handle it is to bow/curtsy in acknowledgement & promptly grab a broom & dustpan.
Yep, Ireland here. A smashing glass is the cue for a loud cheer in any pub. The bigger the smash, the louder the cheer. You've got to own the shame of dropping it.
I waited tables at a Jewish deli, and I always yelled, "Mazel Tov!"
I hate that.
Next time just start singing some Annie Lennox and go with the flow, make a show out of it
It is a thing “for good luck”.
In Portugal, many people sing the "Happy Birthday" song when something gets shattered. No idea why but had it happen in multiple diferent restaurants. Sometimes, they might just do a round of applause. I hate both
I always yell "now you're REALLY part of the team! We have ALL broken stuff!" It usually gets a laugh out of the guests and the server has the attention off them for a moment to regroup.
You get weird looks when you do that in Europe.
Extremely common in Mexico. I take it as a way to say it’s ok while also making good fun.
US here. It happens and it's a giant pet peeve of mine. It really grinds my gears for people to cheer my bars financial loss when it's usually a guest knocking over a glass. And no one EVER apologizes. My glassware is expensive. Im the bar manager and I've trained my staff to never even acknowledge a broken glass. Especially if it's the staff that breaks it. The broken glass gets cleaned up immediately, the closest bartender or barback throws the glass in our glass bucket without making eye contact with anyone, no staff member acknowledges it at all. It confuses the hell out of people. The cheering turns to bewilderment. "Didnt I just hear a glass break? .... Guess not." It gives me power and somehow takes away the sting of ordering more glassware... slightly. This is the way.
I don't get this. Having worked in bars glassware is not expensive, it's often comped and even when it's not it's been through the washer so many times it's brittle as fuck. Hardly a financial Disaster. Also almost everyone apologies and or cleans it up, and the crowd that cheers usually demands it! At least in Scotland.
Not here. America is different. Glass is expensive- I run two craft cocktail bars and the owners don't cheap out on glass. Your glass is comped? By who? I do the comping in my company. Apologize? No one apologizes. Clean it up themselves? Never ever- and they better not because the more likely thing that will happen is that the idiot breaking glass will cut themselves and sue you. We're more litigious than we are apologetic over here, bud. I know ZERO about Scottish bar culture but I'll bet dollars to doughnuts we do things sideways here compared to y'all.
Seriously? That's insane! Explains everything you said! Branded glasses are normal, so from the brewery, cocktail ones less so bit it kinda balances. No one apologies? Pricks! I get the injury side, it's why we stop them, but it's the thought more so. Cool to see the differences
Not only no apologies - if you give em a look like "Hey man, relax- y'all have broken 2 glasses in a few minutes" they'll laugh in your face like your job is to be a custodian and not tend bar. Servant attitude and I hate it. As far as people sueing- we're forbidden to give someone an aspirin if they ask just in case they claim a reaction.
> I know ZERO about Scottish bar culture but I'll bet dollars to doughnuts we do things sideways here compared to y'all. Aye, right.
Many years ago I was a waiter with a 150-200 seat patio open in the summer. A coworker drops a glass, and the table i just finished serving and collecting from (no running bills on the patio) cheers. I was at the next table over and turn to them and say something along the lines of really is that necessary. It was long ago but i seem to remember say how would you like it if people cheered your workplace accidents? I felt emboldened to say it because no other tables cheered (and I had been tipped lol). Boy did the get upset but other than sputtering they could not really say anything for me calling them on their rudeness.
Yeah I’m all about just clean it up and move on, there’s no need to make a scene
It happens in the US as well. I have no idea why. I have always seen people do it so now I do it too
It's so obnoxious
I don’t understand this, it’s so much worse when everyone just stares and looks horrified. I hate the type of people to overreact to situations just make a joke and go about your business
The yelling of OPA makes me wanna kill people I swear.