World Bartender Day is a holiday that’s observed annually on February 24th. It’s a day that celebrates the men and women who formulate and serve alcoholic (or sometimes non-alcoholic) beverages from behind a bar.

They work in licensed establishments that operate as pubs, taverns, bars, nightclubs, private parties, or restaurants. Bartenders do more than just serve drinks, however. They also work as impromptu therapists, listening to their customer’s problems and complaints.

That alone should be a good enough reason for everyone to celebrate these professionals and show them some appreciation on this holiday. So, everyone is should give their bartender a thank-you and a nice big tip on this day.

The History Of World Bartender Day

Bartending is a profession that goes back to antiquity. All the way back to ancient Asia, Roman and Greek societies. These bartenders would work in public bars and at private inns. However, at this time, bartending wasn’t an official profession.

It was something that was grouped into the category of hired help. It wouldn’t be until the 18th century that bartenders would be seen as professionals doing a much-needed service for their patrons.

As far as the origins of this holiday, it appears that it started during a cocktail competition that happened a few years ago in Australia and New Zealand. This holiday then spontaneously took on a life of its own after this event and it’s been observed ever since.

Some Quick Facts About Bartenders

Below are some quick facts about bartenders and bartending that we think our readers might be interested in learning about. We came up with the following bulleted facts after doing a considerable amount of research for this holiday. Let’s take a quick look at them before we see how World Bartender Day is observed.

• In some U.S. states, 18-year-olds can tend bars, even though they still can’t drink.
• Many bartenders are required to work 10-12 hour shifts on a regular basis.
• Bartending not only deals with customers but also with routine tasks such as taking inventory, stocking the bar, and doing dishes.

Observing World Bartender Day

On this day, everyone who regularly goes to their local pub, restaurant, or bar is encouraged to show their hardworking bartender a little bit of love. This can be done simply by saying thank you to them, or even better, by slipping them a big tip. People can also give all bartenders a shout-out on social media using the hashtag #WorldBartenderDay on social media.