That is not necessarily a sign you got hosed. I worked many open bars with a cap. Every drink was rang up on the register and I would do a total every once in awhile and then cut it off when the cap was reached.
The main thing about free drinks for people.....they drink more and they ALWAYS order premium stuff. Someone that usually will order a gin and tonic will always order a Tanq tonic. A vodka tonic ALWAys becomes a Stoli tonic. You can reach your cap pretty fast like that.
We did not request or suggest a cap. The bar was open the entire time - and many just had bottled beer or wine.
No, we got hosed.
Twenty-five people drank, I only had three drinks, hubby had about four, so twenty-three people didn’t drink $1400.00 + in liquor and bottled beer and wine. LOL - they were all upright and coherent, no drunkies.
I hosted a bereavement gathering (wake) at a different place-no prior notice, and had them run a per-drink tab.
The same deal, no restrictions on brand, wine and beer too. That place had drink prices about the same as the reception venue.
Twice as many people drinking, for roughly 2 1/2 hours came to right around $550. And there were a few drunkies there.