No, Karen, You Can't Bring Your Own Drinks to the Bar—And Here's Why
Picture this: It’s the holidays at your favorite business hotel. The halls are decked, the bar is buzzing, and the staff is bracing for the annual influx of tourists who treat “hotel policies” as mere suggestions. In walks a guest—let’s call her Karen—armed with a personal stash of drinks and a powerful sense of entitlement. What could possibly go wrong?
If you’ve ever worked the front desk (or just love a good customer service saga), the answer is: plenty. Today, we’re diving into a viral Reddit tale from r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk, where a manager’s battle with a rule-bending guest set off a firestorm of hilarious, insightful, and sometimes infuriating community reactions. Grab a (legally purchased) drink and let’s get into it!
Holiday Season: When Hotel Rules Meet Tourist Entitlement
Most of the year, hotels cater to business travelers—the kind of guests who, as the original poster (u/Amras1980) notes, “read the signs and life is good.” But as the holiday season rolls in, so do the tourists, and suddenly, even the most basic policies are up for debate.
This particular story begins with a simple sign: “No outside food or drinks.” You’d think this would be as obvious as not bringing your own popcorn into a movie theater. But for one guest, the rules were apparently optional. When the bartender politely reminded her about the no-BYOB policy at the hotel bar, Karen was not amused. She demanded to see the manager, and when that didn’t work, she launched into a 10-minute tirade about how “every other hotel in the world” allows outside drinks.
As u/Jabbles22 so brilliantly put it: “Well I am happy that we were able to provide you with a truly unique experience.” Sometimes the best response to entitled logic is a little sarcasm.
The Law, the License, and the Logic Behind Bar Policies
If you’re wondering why hotels (and pretty much every bar) have these rules, it’s not just about making money—though that certainly doesn’t hurt. As many commenters pointed out, liquor laws are strict and non-negotiable. As u/Newbosterone explained, “Here it’s state law. We could lose our expensive license for allowing someone to consume outside alcohol.” That’s not just a slap on the wrist; it’s a business-killing offense.
Others chimed in with tales of similar headaches. u/Smooth_Contact_2957 detailed how even letting someone leave with an open container or enter with outside booze can risk both guests and the business. “Basically ... BYOB is not A Thing here unless the restaurant allows customers to pay an uncorking fee (which some bougie restaurants will do if it’s your birthday or something) — but they can do that because a certain amount of their sales are just food — if it’s just wine. Liquor? Neverrrrrr.”
And for anyone still clinging to the “but other places let me” defense, u/asyouwish cut right through: “It’s the same rule at ‘every’ hotel in the US. Liquor laws still apply. Outside alcohol is never allowed unless it’s an entirely BYOB place.”
One-Star Reviews and the Art of the Customer Service Mic Drop
After failing to bend the rules, Karen did what Karens do: she stormed off and left a scathing, one-star Google review—naming the front desk manager personally, no less. Suddenly, a simple policy became a public drama.
The comment section had a field day imagining the perfect comeback. u/TenaCVols confessed, “This is when I would want to reply to the review and put her on blast.” The OP even admitted, “Honestly... I would love to do that. Tell her off with a mic drop!” Others suggested more subtle shade, like u/HighColdDesert’s idea: “Thank for calling our future guests’ attention to this rule. I hope you find a different hotel next time that serves your needs.”
Some took it a step further: “Of course you can bring your own liquor. There’s a $3,000 corkage fee, payable in advance,” quipped u/Wonderful-Power9161. And if you’re worried about negative reviews, u/ComputerGuyInNOLA offered reassurance: “Trust me, no one will pay attention to her ranting, rambling, self entitled post.” In fact, as u/Big_Air3392 put it, “When someone posts a bad review about me following the policy, I feel proud. I did the right thing and it’s not my problem if someone doesn’t like it.”
The Bigger Picture: Rules, Respect, and a Little Common Sense
This story isn’t just about one stubborn guest. It’s a window into the daily grind of hospitality workers everywhere, who must enforce sensible rules while dodging entitled tirades. As u/Wigglerstew43 noted, it’s not just tourists—college towns, youth sports parents, and even restaurant patrons all try to skirt the rules in the name of “customer service.”
And as u/RoyallyOakie pointed out, would anyone walk into a restaurant with their own takeout and expect to be served? (Spoiler: apparently, yes, some people do.)
At the end of the day, these policies exist for a reason—legal, financial, and practical. As one wise commenter (u/SvenTheHorrible) summed up: “I’d love to let you, but in this jurisdiction it is actually illegal. My hands are tied unless I want to cost this business its liquor license.”
So, Karen, we wish you luck finding that magical hotel where the rules don’t apply. For the rest of us, let’s raise a glass (from the bar, of course) to the unsung heroes of the front desk—who deal with the drama so we don’t have to.
Have you ever witnessed a “Karen” in the wild, or had to enforce a rule that sparked an epic meltdown? Share your stories in the comments! And remember: When in doubt, check the sign—and maybe leave the BYOB at home.
Original Reddit Post: No, you can’t bring your own drinks into our bar, Karen.