In lots of the 'classier' bars in town they place your drink on a napkin when they serve you.

Does anyone know what you're supossed to do with it when you take your drink? Are you supposed to take it with you and put it on your table or leave it on the bar?

Do they just use them to keep the bar dry?
Can any barstaff out there help me with this minor piece of drinking etiquette?

keep bar dry as not many pubs not especially in city town bars have beer mats it be pointless taking it with you to your table as it would fall to bits when its wet thru

I noticed the napkin palavar in California about 10 years ago. The more 'yuppie' types would wrap it around their glass.

I had several theories why:

- Protect delicate fingers from slight dampness caused by condensation.

- Protect delicate fingers from the cold of the drink though the insualtion properties seemed somewhat lacking.

- Prevent slippage caused by the above.

- Look camp

I decided it was the latter. I didn't partake...

I'm mystified by it all - soggy Tesco value napkins don't exactly scream "class" to me. Why not have designer beer mats or something instead?

I keep the dry napkins incase I need to blow my nose later.

Originally posted by nick2
I keep the dry napkins incase I need to blow my nose later.

Some ladies keep them in case there's no bog roll... maybe too much information there?

I usually get given a napkin after I have been to the barbers. I just put it in the bin.

Originally posted by Lickszz
I usually get given a napkin after I have been to the barbers. I just put it in the bin.

I always wondered why they do that, my mate said it's traditionaly to mop-up any blood from when they operated on you, but I'm not convinced.

Originally posted by Lickszz
I usually get given a napkin after I have been to the barbers. I just put it in the bin.

Could try saving it for a lady in distress (re bog roll - above) :hihi:

I always leave them on the bar

I have part time job in a cafe and I always serve drinks with a napkin under them. I expect the customer to take it with them to their table, wipe up any spillages/wipe their hands/mouth/blot lipstick - anything other than just leave it on the counter! Those who do leave it on the counter annoy me, as I have to chuck it away and get a fresh one out for the next customer as I'd expect a fresh one if I were being served there.

I didn't pay for the napkin, I don't want it! :)

Might be helpful if they actually left a bin for you to put it in.

Originally posted by Lickszz
I usually get given a napkin after I have been to the barbers. I just put it in the bin.

I thought it was for wiping off those last few itchy hairs from the back of your neck, in case they missed any with the brush. Thats what I usually do with it and I dont think I've had any funny looks.

You are probably right. I've never require one yet though.

More poncifying of pubs,why not flowers on the tables of the tap room in the Blue Ball ?

Originally posted by matsalleh
More poncifying of pubs,why not flowers on the tables of the tap room in the Blue Ball ?

Bearing in mind how cold it it, I would have thought the BB had enough problems without flowers :P

A napkin in a cafe makes sense - you use it to wipe your mouth after eating!

Now in a bar, actually I hadn't thought about it but indeed they don't have beer mats, so I think it is all about soaking up spillage, plus image.

Although I do recall being at one of the bars in question (I won't name and shame it) and they had all this poncy style at the bar with napkins placed under each drink and those black plastic containers with napkins and cocktail stirrers and things in, and I went to the gents for a (cough) sit down, and unfortunatly the standards didn't seem to extend to the toilet facilities. None of the cubicles had toilet paper in, so I returned to the bar, took the entire supply of napkins from the holder and returned to the toilet, using the napkins in leui of toilet paper.