Military Spouse Thinks She Should Drink for Free, Leaves Nasty Note on Bar Receipt Instead of a Tip

Being a military spouse is extremely difficult. I get it. I really do. The sacrifices families make for their loved ones who serve are really immense. Military spouses constantly shuffle around the country and are often left to parent kids and maintain entire households on their own for years at a time. It's a hard life.

But is it the same level of sacrifice as actually serving? I don't know. Do businesses often have discounts for military members in place? Yes. But for spouses? No. The line has to be drawn somewhere. It's nice when restaurants or stores offer (usually) 10 percent off to show their appreciation for members of the armed forces. But it's not required! One military spouse, however, didn't think she should just get a discount. She thought she should have gotten her drinks for free. And she let everyone know.

This screenshot of a Snapchat made its way to the Choosing Beggars subreddit, where it went totally viral. Let me break it down for you. This military spouse, whom I assume is a woman based on the handwriting (sorry if that's wrong!), ordered two glasses of chardonnay. When the bill came, she left a nasty note for the server instead of a tip because she believes she was entitled to free drinks. Not just a discount. Free drinks. 

Then, she posted a picture of the jerky note she wrote to Snapchat in order to complain more. I have so many questions. Dependents of service members do get ID cards, but those are generally used to access your government benefits. Sure, some other businesses offer discounts, but can you imagine expecting a discount, let alone multiple completely free drinks? 

In what world do military members get free stuff? Maybe at a bar, the bartender or another patron will buy an army vet a beer, but I don't think members of the military constantly get free stuff. These are businesses! They have to survive. If every bar in a town near a military base gave free drinks to every military member and spouse who walked through the door, they would be out of business in a day. A small discount for active members of the armed forces is standard... and that's it!

What really gets me is that she did a jerky thing, then proudly took a photo of herself being a jerk, and posted it to social media like the other person was the jerk. Just a complete lack of self-awareness. That server probably doesn't get paid enough not to get tips from angry military spouses. 

This military spouse, however, is not alone in her sense of entitlement. 

There's a whole subreddit dedicated to calling out military spouses who overstep called Just Dependa Things. For those who are not aware, "dependa," is, according to Urban Dictionary, a derogatory term for overly entitled and dependent military spouses. The subreddit is chock full of military spouses complaining about not getting the same benefits their partners do.

I really don't want to belittle the sacrifices military spouses make. But many of the posts in the subreddit really do convey a sense of entitlement and unawareness about how the world works. For example, In one post, a woman complains about not being able to use a discount for checking bags when she's traveling with her small children, suitcases, strollers, and car seats. That's a whole lot, and that's frustrating, and I get it. But so many people do this all the time without expecting a discount. 

I do think active duty military members, veterans, and their families, deserve assistance from the government for the sacrifices they make for the country. It's a total life commitment, and it makes sense they get that extra support. But there are programs in place for that. I'll be the first to admit I can't possibly understand what it's like to be a member of the military or have family members in the military. 

But I do understand private businesses still need to turn a profit to run. The people who work there have to make a living, too. Bartenders deserve tips and they can't be giving free things away and discounts to everyone. The post below demonstrates just how insane this has gotten.

Not too long ago, marijuana was straight-up illegal! Now, people are complaining the discount on cannabis products for veterans and their spouses isn't significant enough. It hurts my brain to think about. 

Look, maybe the woman who left a nasty note after two glasses of chardonnay was having a bad day. Maybe she'll wake up tomorrow with a wine headache and a bunch of regret. Being a military spouse is undoubtedly a hard life. But it takes real nerve for anyone, even veterans themselves, to demand free products from any business. Businesses aren't just businesses. They're people trying to make a living, too.