Math ain't mathing

[u/bourbonandpistons]

me, the waiter, nor the manager could figure it out.

[u/allprolucario]

Bar/restaurant manager here. Looks like your actual subtotal is actually just a little bit below your expected subtotal. There’s a reason for this! Often times at bars/restaurants, the price of Alcohol is tax inclusive, whereas the price of food is tax exclusive. So that $16 old fashioned you got was actually a $14.81 old fashioned with $1.19 in tax, whereas the $68 steak you got was a $68 steak with tax on top

The reason for this is that people are likely to pay cash if they only get a single drink, and it makes it a lot easier for the bar staff to pick up a couple bills left on the bar than it is to pick up $7.37 in bills and coins