I disagree. I tip a dollar per drink no matter what it is. It's no more than 30 seconds of work to pour/ open a beer, maybe 60 seconds for a mixed drink? Then I walk away. Transaction/ service complete. Unlike a server who attends to you for the duration of a meal, while you are also sitting there occupying table space of other paying customers.

Most people run tabs on plastic nowadays, so how's the bartender supposed to even know what they are earning per drink? I prefer to pay in cash & tip dollars as I go, & i find most bartenders are more than happy to get them & continue good service when they see paper coming their way on every transaction.

Sure, that’s reasonable. I just see people who order a round of 6 drinks and then throw a single dollar in, at some places.

Hopefully GP meant a dollar per drink. That seems to be the norm.

If you're headed to a craft establishment, $2 is the norm now. (aka a drink that has 4-10 ingredients, not a vodka/soda)

I suppose that's where the disconnect is. I only order beers or shots of whisky. One dollar per drink keeps the bartenders attentive in my experience.

Personally if the drink is sub-10$, I tip $1.

Then you're not going to 'craft' establishments.

Maybe I'm not. Could you link an example of one? Would you tip more than 1$ on, say, a $6 drink there?

You wouldn't be paying $6 for a 'craft' style cocktail anywhere in the US. A 'craft' cocktail usually has 4-10 ingredients and a garnish that compliments the flavor - usually through your orthonasal senses. It's not a vodka soda or a gin and tonic. It's a Fish House Punch or a Jungle Bird or a Champs Elysees or any number of amazing cocktails that exist in the world.