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MonDec 2

National Bartender Day – December 2, 2024

Bartenders have a rich history: They have been around since ancient times across cultures. And with over half a million bartenders in the U.S., National Bartender Day is a big holiday to celebrate. Whether you go out to a bar or restaurant in your neighborhood, make a trek to a new spot in town, or share a drink with your favorite bar tending friend, December 2 is the day to show your appreciation for all the mixologists out there.

National Bartender Day timeline

​1400s
Innkeepers as bartenders

Throughout Europe, innkeepers were their own bartenders. They usually made their own ales and spirits to serve to their guests.

​​1862
​Jerry Thomas published "The Bartender's Guide"​

​​The popular American bartender and saloon owner wrote the first drink book ever distributed in the U.S.

​1920
Bartenders worked hard — even during Prohibition

In fact, the bartending profession was alive and well in underground speakeasies during this time.​ The "dry" era even gave birth to an iconic drink: the gin and tonic.

1989
Beloved Bartender

TV's most loved bartender Moe Syzlak makes his debut on The Simpsons.

National Bartender Day Activities

  1. Leave your bartender an extra tip

    About 55% of a bartender's take-home pay comes from tips, so give them something a little special.

  2. Try a new cocktail at your local bar

    Mix it up with a new drink! Whether it's a Salty Dog or a Pisco Sour, take a sip of something you've never tried before.

  3. Be your own bartender for the night

    If you can't make it out tonight, try mixing a new drink at home. There are tons of recipes online to try.

​Cocktail Trivia To Share With Your Bartender

  1. How popular are margaritas?

    Actual research shows that, on average, Americans consume 185,000 margaritas per hour.​

  2. ​Raise your glass for a (piece of) toast

    Ancient Romans would put a piece of toast in their glass for good health, which is where we get the term "to toast."

  3. Bubble-licious!

    Every bottle of champagne has about 49 million bubbles!

Why We Love National Bartender Day

  1. Bartenders are some of our favorite people

    Where would we be without our bartenders? From serving up interesting cocktails to greeting us at our usual haunts, bartenders make our weekends that much better.

  2. It's a time to party

    If any of us need a reason to raise a glass, celebrate National Bartender Day! Patronizing our favorite bars and getting together with our friends is a fun time for all involved.

  3. We're appreciating someone we often take for granted

    Sometimes we don't think about all the hard work that our bartenders do for us. Today we can take a moment to think about who's mixing our drinks.

National Bartender Day dates

Year Date Day
2022 December 2 Friday
2023 December 1 Friday
2024 December 6 Friday
2025 December 5 Friday
2026 December 4 Friday