Gonna add on to this:
From the other side of the bar, I see this crap all the time. Seriously. I work at a high-density bar, and let me tell you, I have anywhere from 10-20 guys every night come up and tell me to, āserve her a stronger drink, Iām trying to get lucky tonight, know what I mean?ā usually accompanied with a wink and a gesture at a girl who, in my experience, is going to go from mildly buzzed to definitively hammered if I keep serving her. Now, I like to think Iām a responsible bartender, so I usually tell guys like that to piss off, and, if I can, try to tell the girlās more sober friends that they need to keep an eye on her.
But everyone- just so you know, most of the time, when someone you donāt know is buying you a drink, theyāre NOT doing it out of a sense of cordiality, theyāre buying you a drink for the sole purpose of making you let your guard down. So:
1. ALWAYS GO TO THE BAR TO GET YOUR OWN DRINK, DO NOT LET STRANGERS CARRY YOUR DRINKS. This is an opportune time for dropping something into your cocktail, and youāre none the wiser.
2.IF YOU ORDER SOMETHING NON-ALCOHOLIC, I promise you, the bartender doesnāt give two shits that youāre not drinking cocktails with your friends, and often, totally understands that you donāt want to let your guard down around strangers. Usually, you can just tell the bartender that youād like something light, and thatās a big clue to us that youāre uncomfortable with whomever youāre standing next to. Again, we see this all the time.
3. If youāre in a position to where you feel uncomfortable not ordering alcohol:
Hereās a list of light liquors, and mixers that wonāt get you drunk, and will still look like an actual cocktail:
X-rated + sprite = easy to drink, sweet, and 12% alcoholic content. Not strong at all, usually runs $6-$8, depending on your state.
Amaretto + sour= sweet, not strong, 26%.
Peach Schnapps+ ginger ale= tastes like mellow butterscotch, 24%.
Melon liquor (Midori, in most bars) + soda water = not overly sweet, 21%
Coffee liquor (Kahlua) +soda = not super sweet, 20%.
Hope this helps someone out!