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There have been plenty of movies and shows based on this so I guess I'm more confirming a poorly kept secret than I am revealing it, but;
If you go out to eat in a college town (esp if it's a state school,) there's a good chance that almost every employee (managers, bartenders, servers, you name it) is drinking or smoking pot out back, if not in the middle of an active bender. We'd fill our water bottles with alcohol, make food for our stoner friends in exchange for drugs, take shots in the walk-in fridge, roll on Molly while cooking, run out back to puke, and rally for the rest of our shift. After closing we'd meet up with other industry friends, usually at a bar where one of them was still working, close that place down, then pair off and hook up in questionable places.
I've had sex on restaurant rooftops and patios, in supply closets, behind the stacked pallets in dry storage, and in the manager's office. I witnessed others get it on in booths, on top of the video poker machines, and even on the bar itself. Thankfully never where food was prepared, but that was pretty much the only thing that was off limits, and only within my social circle. I can't speak about others.
I'm a boring elder millennial now, but every once in a while I reminisce about working in the service industry. I don't think I appreciated how much freedom I had, I was too busy worrying about money, school, and relationships. I definitely wouldn't do it again, but I'm glad I got to sow my oats, or whatever.
Good ol kitchen confidential right here lol
Oats weren't the only thing sowed, dad.
Enjoyed the read, but this really isn't an industry secret College town, resort town, beach town, mountain town, you name it- restaurant peeps are fucked up and fuckin'.
But they get their shit done, so its well earned.
That's why I called it a poorly kept secret. It's a specific corner of the industry and anyone who has worked in it is probably well aware. But I think people in the industry definitely try to keep their behavior secret from customers, the big bosses, and outsiders in general. Are they successful in keeping things under wraps? Depends a lot on the who, what and where. But regardless, I've met many people who've never worked these types of service jobs, and think shows/movies like Waiting, Party Down, The White Lotus, Shameless etc, are exaggerations.
In my experience (at 5 or 6 different restaurants/bars in 1 college town and 1 tourist trap) they are not.
The only show I can think of that's obviously exaggerated, imo, is It's Always Sunny. But that's just because of the characters. If you strip an episode down to the plot points (trying to get on welfare/foodstamps to subsidize your slacker lifestyle, unhealthy rivalries with other bars/service employees, low standards re: job performance, constantly drinking on the job, etc) I'd say that it's pretty accurate as well.
Holy shit mate aren't you worried about STDs
Why would I be? I get tested regularly (even now that I'm married, just in case), have the HPV vaccine, use protection, and have been on some sort of contraceptive for most of my adult life. I've never had an STD or an "oops" pregnancy, and know very few people who have.
Sex is fun, and pleasure is one of the best ways to deal with stress, imo. We shouldn't feel guilty pursuing what we want, as long as everyone is a consenting adult and being safe and responsible.
I see bro. I guess I worry too much about it