Bottle service

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Bottle service in a nightclub in Rome, Italy (2019)

Bottle service is the sale of liquor by the bottle, mostly in North American lounges and nightclubs.

The purchase of bottle service typically includes a

patron's party and mixers of the patron's choice. Bottle service can include the service of a VIP host and cocktail waitresses colloquially known as bottle girls, who will ensure that patrons have sufficient mixers and will often make drinks using the patrons' liquor bottle and mixers. The purchase of bottle service sometimes results in cover charge
being waived for the purchaser's party and often allows patrons to bypass entrance lines. The gratuity is also often added automatically but portions of that go to security, porters, and back-of-the-house staff, in addition to the VIP host who serves the patron.

The cost of a bottle at such a lounge or club is usually significantly marked up, often by 1,000 percent or more, and can account for a significant portion of an establishment's revenue.[1]

History

Early forms of bottle service existed in World War II era

Stolichnaya vodka),[2] with the goal of creating a "barrier to entry", rather than of increasing liquor sales.[1]

The concept later spread to other American cities, notably Miami and Las Vegas in the early 2000s.[citation needed]

Criticism

The cost of bottle service and the central position provided to purchasers of bottle service has led some critics to complain that bottle service is turning night clubs into

elitist dens.[3] Preferential treatment for purchasers of bottle service may include stopping the regular dance music when an especially expensive bottle is purchased and, instead, playing a theme song, or removing patrons from a table to make way for another patron and their party that purchased bottle service.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Milzoff, Rebecca (October 16, 2006). "Can Clubland Survive Without Bottle Service?". New York. Retrieved September 10, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c Niemietz, Brian (June 18, 2006). "Bottle Service: A Brief History". New York.
  3. ^ a b Draoulec, Pascale (February 7, 2011). "Most Expensive Bottle Service". Forbes. Retrieved July 18, 2011.

External links