‘Bar humpers’ might make customers’ ‘blood boil’ – but are they really to blame?

Is it really so hard to wait your turn! (Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) After quietly waiting your turn to order a glass of wine, stuck behind a group of rowdy lads buying rounds for what appears to be their entire rugby club, your patience starts to wear a little thin. You finally make it to the front, plant your feet firmly on the sticky carpet, and desperately try to make eye contact with the bartender. But when they call out ‘who’s next?’ you’re pushed aside by a stranger who screeches ‘me!’ before you’ve even had a chance to open your mouth. We all know someone who struggles with proper boozer etiquette and doesn’t think their order through, so by the time they approach the bar they need at least two to three working days to figure it out. And based on the law of averages, you probably also know a ‘bar humper’ — or may even be one yourself. There’s an etiquette to ordering at the pub. Ignore it and consider yourself barred (Picture: Getty Images) This term, coined by Metro, refers to punters who have absolutely no respect for the unspoken rules of queuing, using a combination of forcefulness and sheer audacity to the steal rightful next customer’s turn. A pretty selfish move, bar humping can entirely change the temperature in the room. Because, let’s be honest, is there anything more traitorous than denying a Brit their beer? What do the public think about ‘bar humpers’? Whether it’s queuing to board a flight, downloading an app, or pre-heating the oven, as a nation, we don’t love waiting longer than strictly necessary. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. In fact, last September, a poll of 3,000 adults uncovered that a fifth of the population — equivalent to 10.7 million people — consider themselves impatient. Latest London news The research, commissioned by Sky Broadband, revealed that just over a quarter (27%) of us will only wait for a maximum of three minutes when faced with a delay of any kind. So, why would it be any different when it comes to waiting your turn to order a drink? When it comes to bar humping, TikToker @L&Sspam said they ‘hate when people do this so much,’ while another claimed it makes them ‘uncontrollably angry’. On Reddit, @wild_ad shared that those who do it make his ‘blood boil’, with @noobstacle adding: ‘I’d give them a good tutting, followed by a swift stare at the floor when they noticed.’ How should you handle a bar humper? While etiquette expert Jo Hayes acknowledges that there ‘are few things more loathsome to a Brit than a queue jumper’, she also urges people to remember that the criminal in question may have no clue they’ve committed an offence in the first place. ‘Innocent or not, if you’re sure you were there ahead of them, it’s quite appropriate to politely interrupt their order, and inform both them and the bar staff, that you were next,’ she tells Metro. ‘The way to approach it is to be a bit bolshy. Don’t hesitate or wait until they’ve finished ordering their group’s round of drinks before you step in and say something. ‘You’ve got to be on your toes at the bar, ready to grab the bartenders attention as soon as they’re ready to take the next order.’ And when you hear that magical, ‘who’s next’, Jo says it’s imperative you’re quick to jump in advising people to use body language by raising an arm or hand, and project your voice as much as is acceptable in the environment. If someone does jump in ahead of you, however, keep it brief, civil and the tone as light as possible. There’s no need to get feisty or testy. Whose job is it to know who’s next in the queue? Although most people agree that ‘bar humpers’ are annoying, according to many people online, they’re not actually the problem here. ‘I don’t always get annoyed at the person being served, more so the barman, it’s part of their job to know who’s next,’ Redditor @scaramouche notes. Another user pondered if it might be a cultural issue, adding: ‘The bartenders in the UK don’t do a good job of observing who is first in line. ‘If you go to Canada or America, where they are used to tips, the bartenders are far better (and the customers actually respect the queue).’ Is it actually the bartender’s job to make sure everyone is served in the right order? (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) Over on TikTok, @jordanmontgomery joked: ‘I must have a miserable looking face or something every time people approach the bar after me and still get served before me!’ So, have we been directing our anger towards the wrong people? According to Tony Cela, general manager at Maggie’s Nightclub in Chelsea, it’s staff’s responsibility to ‘remove the potential anxiety of the “who’s next” question.’ ‘Our bartenders are trained to monitor who joins the queue when and in the most fair way, provide service to our customer in order that they arrive at the bar,’ he tells Metro. Marco Gentili, Manager at Mr Fogg’s Pawnbrokers, feels the same, explaining: ‘We like to make sure it is as even as possible, so for us, the bartender makes the deciding factor on who is next.’ Basically, bar humpers are objectively rude, but if you’re stuck at the bar watching dozens of punters get served before you, you might want to reconsider who you blame. Whether you choose to take it up with the person pulling your pints, however, is another matter entirely. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: Brothers jailed for vicious knife ambush near King’s Cross station that left man fighting for life Arrow MORE: London flats turn to ‘ghost town’ after hundreds evacuated over dangerous crack Arrow MORE: Birthplace of TV in the UK honoured with special plaque