It’s generally acknowledged that Kiefer Sutherland can party hard. He’s got several stints in rehab under his belt to prove it. There’s this story going around from TMZ about how Kiefer blew $700 on his bar tab from 7 in the morning until 1 o’clock in the afternoon last week. Yes, your jaw is supposed to hit the floor. But despite the way their intro paragraph makes it sound, they acknowledge he was actually just being a good guy.

Kiefer stopped in with about 30 members of the crew from 24 – after what must have been a very early shoot. He paid for everyone’s drinks, which came out to $500 (or about $16.66 per person on average); and he left a $200 tip.

Kiefer Sutherland racked up the following $700 bar tab between 7am and 1pm. Yes, those times are correct.

We’ve learned the “24″ star and members of the show’s crew popped into The Spot in San Pedro, California last week after wrapping up a shoot nearby — and they were ready to get their drink on.

According to an employee at the bar, Kiefer was throwing back scotch & Cokes and bought drinks for everybody in the joint — roughly 30 people. The total damage: $500. No food … all booze.

The drinks may have been stiff, but Kiefer wasn’t — we’re told he tipped $200.

FYI: We’re told Sutherland — who has a few DUIs under his belt — was responsible this time and used a designated driver when he left the bar.

[From TMZ]

It’d be extra nice if the story were about how Kiefer nursed some ginger ales and made sure everyone had a good time. While it doesn’t seem like he’s taking his sobriety seriously, and least he’s taking his responsibility to the law more seriously. And I guess that’s something. If I were on the crew, I would have been sort of nervous about the whole thing. It just seems like he’s asking for trouble and tabloid headlines. Everything considered, it sounds like Sutherland was gracious all the way around – TMZ has some funny photos taken at the bar.

Here’s Kiefer dining at the Spotted Pig in New York City on October 1st. Images thanks to INF Photo.