Gen Z, Open the Tab: You’re Not Buying a House, You’re Buying a Beer

We read the New York Times article about Gen Z avoiding bar tabs like they’re 30-year mortgages, and… wow. You really meant it. No tab, no commitment, just one drink at a time, paid for with surgical precision and a side of anxiety.

We’re not mad. We’re just… a little concerned. And we get it. You’ve lived through recessions, pandemics, student debt, and TikTok advice about “soft saving.” You’re cautious, calculated, and financially fluent in ways we weren’t at your age. But somewhere between the budgeting apps and your sixth single transaction at the bar, something got lost: fun.

So here’s some lovingly sarcastic, slightly buzzed advice from the folks who made friends with bartenders, caught the last ride home (barely), and still managed to pay rent the next day.

When Did Having a Good Time Become a Source of Anxiety?

Let’s start here: Why is opening a bar tab now seen as high-stakes?

Somewhere along the line, spontaneity became a threat. But guess what? Fun is not the enemy. Being smart with money is great, but living in fear of it is not. When caution turns into chronic anxiety, it’s time to recalibrate.

Our Gen X:

We knew how to pregame, party, and pay the bills. You don’t have to pick one. Stop overthinking every dollar. Budget, yes. But don’t forget to live a little. You’re not buying a house, you’re buying a beer.

Swipe, Sip, Stress: The Transactional Mindset That’s Robbing You

You tap your phone to pay, like you’re at a coffee shop. You close out after every drink like you’re escaping a crime scene. This isn’t just about saving $8, it’s about control. The kind of control that says, “If I keep things small, they won’t get messy.”

But life is messy. That’s the point.

Our advice: Let go a little. Stop micromanaging your night like it’s a project deadline. Confidence comes from rolling with the chaos, not eliminating it.

Financially Smart, Socially Insecure: Speak Up, Please

A lot of this isn’t about money. It’s about fear of speaking up. You don’t want to “bother” the bartender. You’re scared to flag someone down. You think asking to close out is too assertive?

We love your empathy. Really. But social skills are essential. Shyness won’t pay your bills or land your next promotion.

Our advice: Make eye contact. Use your voice. Own your space. Paying your tab once isn’t just etiquette, it’s training for life.

Control ≠ Maturity

We know it feels good to close out each time. You get that little buzz of completion. But that’s not maturity, that’s avoidance. You’re avoiding risk. Avoiding interaction. Avoiding the trust that comes with being part of a scene.

Our advice: Real adulthood isn’t about avoiding mistakes, it’s about recovering from them. Lost your card at the bar? You’ll survive. And next time, you’ll double-check your pockets before leaving.

Hyper-Caution Is Costing You More Than Money

You’re cautious about spending, cautious about social settings, cautious about generosity. Let us tell you something important: your hyper-vigilance might be saving you a few bucks, but it’s costing you growth, confidence, and connection.

Our advice: Spend $20 too much. Talk to a stranger. Type in the wrong address on the Uber app (True Story). Laugh about it. Tell the story later. These are the moments that shape you, not the ones where everything goes according to plan.

From Budgeting to Belonging

This one’s personal. Why are you all buying drinks individually, like you just met five minutes ago? What happened to rounds? To shared tabs? To “I got this, you get the next”?

Our advice: Friendship isn’t built on individual transactions. It’s built on trust, generosity, and shared experience. Pick up a tab. Let your friend return the favor. That’s how real bonds and real memories are made.

Final Thought From Your Elders (Who’ve Survived Life Without Apple Pay and TikTok):

We’re not saying you need to drink more, spend recklessly, or go full 1990s Wall Street. But life isn’t meant to be lived in tiny, perfectly calculated increments. Sometimes, you’ve gotta open the tab and open yourself up to what comes next.

So raise your glass, Gen Z. You’ve got the tools. Now go make memories.

And seriously… open the tab. After all, hangovers are temporary, but a tipsy night of overspending to impress the girl, stories last forever. And, the bartender will thank you.

Hector Barajas is the founder of Amplify360 Inc., a Sacramento-based public affairs and strategic communications firm that advises companies and associations on legislative, regulatory, and political issues across California. He also remembers a time when bar tabs and rent could coexist peacefully.