Ever wondered how bartenders manage to communicate over the noise and chaos of a packed bar? According to industry insiders, many rely on a secret system of codes, some practical, others a bit cheeky.
One former bartender explained on Reddit that numbers like “86” and “200” are commonly used in the trade. “86” typically means a product has run out or needs to be removed from the menu, while “200” alerts staff that a customer is waiting to be served.
Handy, right? But beyond the essentials, bartenders also have fun with their code systems, especially when it comes to spotting attractive customers.
The Reddit post sparked a wave of responses from other bartenders sharing their own secret codes.
Some revealed that “700” was used to signal when an especially attractive person was at the bar, described by one as the “hottest girl in the building.”
Others got even more creative. One bartender said they use “699” for someone attractive and “300 high” to describe a woman with a large chest, building off the base code “300” for an attractive lady.
Some staff even developed their own scoring system for customers, rating their looks and “date-ability” on a scale. One bartender described their code as a three-digit number where:
- The first digit is the face (0–9),
- The second is a 0 or 1 (wouldn’t or would),
- The third is the body (0–9).
So if a colleague said “719,” it meant: good face, would, great body. A “303”? Less flattering.
Not all codes are about looks, though. Some are practical ways to sneak in a break. One bartender said when their manager asked for a “quick word,” it was code for grabbing a discreet shot mid-shift. Another said they called it a “staff meeting”, a ritual to keep morale high on especially busy nights.
“I’m the GM at a sports bar and nightclub,” one Redditor wrote. “On chaotic nights, I’ll call a ‘staff meeting.’ Everyone pours themselves a quick shot, we cheers behind the bar, and then dive back into the madness.”
Another version? “Family counselling.” Same concept, just a little more cryptic.
And it turns out this coded language isn’t exclusive to bars.
One former McDonald’s worker recalled a similar system when an attractive customer walked in. Since only eight burgers could be cooked at a time, they'd yell “cheese on nine”, a signal for coworkers to pop up and sneak a peek.
“You’d suddenly see five or six heads pop up from behind the fryer,” they joked.
Whether it’s managing supplies, dodging burnout, or just having a little fun during the grind, it seems that bartenders and service workers everywhere have a secret language all their own, and now, you're in on it too!