Is there any public space that sees more soap opera worthy drama than a bar? Other than like, a hospital, of course. It's the place of countless first dates, first meetings, break ups, and the drowning of countless sorrows. That's before we even get to the people who work there.
Many working in this form of hospitality are the work hard, play hard type, and they certainly earn the playing. Customers are rarely more difficult than when they're drunk and disorderly. Plus, depending on where they work a lot of bartenders have to learn a load of complicated drink recipes off by heart.
It's not a role for everyone, but we're mighty glad for the people who do it. Between the unsociable hours and the art of crowd management, there can be some genuine pleasure in serving drinks for a living. A lot of annoyances, too, but that's what the memes are for.