I usually do pay as you go when I go to the bars, but they always ask if I want to start a tab. I noticed that when you start a tab, you typically just leave them your debit/credit card and they'll charge everything at once whenever you're ready to leave.

My question is this: would it work if one were to find an old/stolen/lost credit or debit card, use it to hold a tab, and then bolt when you're finished without paying?

It's not the most complicated of scams, but bars get really expensive really fast. Is it even worth it?

Seems like a bad idea, because by the time you raked up a big enough bill, you'd probably be drunk as fuck and not in the prime mindset to commit a crime. But who knows...

Pre paid creditcard with $1 on it.

This works and is a great scheme. There's nothing like going to a classy cigar bar that has fucked one of your friends and throwing down one of those pre-approved cards (non-activated, of course), and purchasing Sazerac, Crown, Belvedere, and other top-shelf beverages. Throw in a nice Arturo Fuente, and then just leave without the bar-wench seeing you. You are now home free.

Some or most bar have ID check person at the door, so I think its hard for you to leave the bar before they find out money is not in the card,,,.

I've actually been to very few bars that actually do this. Sounds like it'll work provided that you never go in there again, and don't wind up absolutely hammered.

I've been a bartender for going on 9 years now, so I'll give ya some insight.

In most cases, yes this can and has worked. I've personally seen it several times and I really could care less as long as the card goes thru. Keep in mind that as long as it goes thru and you run out I'm still adding myself atleast a 30% tip on it.

If it's stolen, so be it, you get a free tab, and I still get my tip.

On the other hand, I just started working at a brand new club on my off days from my normal place, and it has one of the new scanning systems, that lets us know if you have the funds on the card.

What I mean is, when you come in and tell me you wanna run a tab, ill take your card and swipe it thru the reader. It wont charge anything at that point, but once I start putting drinks on the tab, it will already be saved in the computer and let us know if you max out.

Just a warning, not all bars are doing this yet.

Oh, and dont ever shit the bartender. The bartender has the keys to the palace.

Done this a couple times... its free booze. And free booze just tastes better some how.

I was thinking that something like this would eventually be put into place. Like with the gas stations - after people kept doing drive offs, they started charging a dollar initially to make sure that the card is active. Now, a lot of gas stations are charging 75 - 100 dollars initially and then crediting you the amount that you don't use later on. It's messing a lot of people up.

Thanks for the responses.

As for getting out of places.... Smoking laws have made that surprising easy...