A Miami content creator says bar customers can score free drinks by simply asking for a “sample.” Alexia Lugo, who posts under the handle @lexsofia, shared the tip in a TikTok video that has since drawn more than 722,000 views. In the caption of the video, Lugo tells viewers to “work smarter not harder” by requesting drink samples instead of paying full price. According to Lugo, bartenders “can’t charge you for a sample.” The claim has divided viewers, with many who identified themselves as hospitality workers disputing that the trick would actually work at most bars. Bartenders say the practice varies widely by venue One commenter, who said they worked at bars ranging from sports bars to upscale dining establishments, said they would not call the tip a “hack” at all. “I wouldnt call this a hack at all because very, and I mean very few places will actually do this,” the commenter wrote, adding that wine tasting might be an exception but that “99% of places will not give you liquor for free, because it still has to be accounted for during inventory checks.” Another self-identified bartender said they would offer samples of beer or wine, but generally not liquor or a full cocktail. “As a bartender i’ll happily let you sample a beer or wine, but never liquor or a cocktail unless i’ve already made some extra by mistake,” the commenter wrote. @lexsofia They can’t charge you for a sample! Work smarter not harder ♬ IN THIS BIH x FERGALICIOUS Angel TFC Edit – Angel TFC A different commenter described a more flexible approach, saying they would let customers sample drinks but would still charge for the alcohol involved. “As a bartender I’d do this for you every time and only charge you for a shot each time,” the commenter wrote. Other bartenders were more blunt in rejecting the idea altogether. “As a bartender I’m not making you no fkn samples of a cocktail ,” one commenter wrote. According to a report from TastingTable, some full-service bars may, at times, offer customers samples of individual ingredients used in a cocktail, as well as samples of select wine or beer options. TastingTable reported that this practice is typically left to the bartender’s discretion rather than something a customer can simply request. Dive bars generally do not offer cocktail samples to customers. Lex Madden, a bar manager at Point Easy in Denver, told TastingTable that whether a bar offers samples “entirely depends on the type of bar you’re in.” Madden noted that some breweries may offer beer or wine samples, though these offerings can come with limitations. Bar staff in the city have also had to navigate other unusual customer requests, including one Denver bartender asked to spit in a drink. One commenter said their brewery allowed customers up to three small samples before requiring them to pay for a 4-ounce pour. A separate commenter described a similar policy in more detail, saying, “Even at a brewery, where samples are allowed, I allowed up to three. At four, I just served you four ounces, which is a size we normally charge for.” Together, these accounts suggest that even where sampling policies exist, they tend to come with limits set by individual establishments. Responses to Lugo’s video also appeared to reflect regional differences in bar practices. One viewer wrote, “A lot of places in Florida allow you to sample different beers and ciders for sure… I’m from NC and we don’t do that here lol.” Another commenter pushed back on the idea that a sample would be free at all, joking, “I’ll make you a ‘sample’ but it’s still going on your tab lol.” Unconventional customer requests at bars have drawn online attention before, including one case where a customer’s improvised espresso martini fix sparked debate among viewers.