The Dog's Name

Translated by
Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones, Jnr
Friday, November 02, 2007

Thought for the Weekend: What does your tipple tell people about you?

Out recently with some friends a young lady joining our group a little late immediately asked the waitress for the drinks menu, which she then proceeded to scour the way some poeple I know scour stock reports. What she actually settled on I can't remember but I do recall MercerMachines comment to her and the ensuing conversation snippet,

MM: Why do women always want the drinks menu? You know whats in there, so why not just order?
Her: You mean guys don't look at the drinks menu?
MM: No, we have our 3-4 staple drinks or we just order what everyone else at the table is drinking.

Which is actually quite true, most guys might take a few miutes to look at the food menu in a bar before ordering, or may if they can't see the taps ask what is "on draft" before deciding which beer...but they knew even before they sat down that they were going to order beer.

So to what extent does what you order tell those around you something about you? Maybe to what extent does how you order it say something about you?

Lucy linked to a newspaper article that pointed to the qualities of a girl who likes to drink beer, and after reading her post and the article I had to wonder: Does the beer a woman drinks make a difference to how we (ie: men) view her? Or are we just to busy feeling stoked when she offers to get the refills? Does the size of the glass affect our perception as much as what goes into the container? Does a Boags girl rate more highly that a VB chick, and/or is a Corona swiller just marking time until you buy her a drink with more fruit hanging off the glass? Does a girl going schooner* for schooner with the boys really look that "attractive", or does the "girl next door" and "down to earth" quality get lost, whereas from a bottle, especially an imported brand, the same message is conveyed but with an added little refinement, dare I say class, that sends a message of exclusivity and rarity rather than a more common announcement? And while I am not suggesting that those "ladies" at the pub chugging pints with the lads are anything less than wonderful women, ask any guy, we have the perception that the rarity reflects the more valuable catch.

Now any guy who does not acknowledge there is something a little erotic about a woman wrapping her lips around the neck of a bottle is lying...pure and simple. And while I hope its not the fetish of anybody I know...its still a little bit of an erotic flash, at least the first time she does it. But does the type of beer she drink, and even the container it comes in, send a message to the guys around her...do we even care? Or are we just happy to have some "gentler" company while engaging in an activity that we happen to love?

But back to the thought for the week and thinking not just about beer: since we all know there is a non-spoken judgment that is carried out as you order a drink in a bar...we all transfer the characteristics of the drink to the drinker, and never even pause to think that they may simply like the taste, I have to wonder,

...so what does your tipple say about you?

* Schooner: common serving measure of beer in NSW(Australia), otherwise roughly translated to Pot, Pint, Mug or even in some parts of Alabama as a plain old Jar.

Last year in the Temple of Doom, Indiana unearthed: Monogamy - Sowing Your Wild Oats

Technorati Tag: The Dogs Name, Drinking, Women

Lectiones Sacrae Ex Libris Indiana 06:00

23 Comments:

The Mama said...: last time we went out, i looked at the drinks menu and ordered a Lychee Martini. It was really good too.

The benefits of looking at the drinks menu is that you get to taste new drinks you wouldn't otherwise have even heard of b4.; 09:05
Jayne said...: Carlton Black (my tipple) says I let the blokes win at pool sometimes and what the hell is a drinks menu???; 10:02
Indiana said...: Mama: I have tried some of those so called drinks when I worked behind the bar...and most of them aren't really worth the effort. But I do understand your logic, what does your egular drink say about you?

Jayne: In some countries, a drinks menu is what some pubs/bars offer patrons when they sit down and enjoy table service rather than bellying up to the bar to get their own. It saves effort, you legs, and nobody gets to see you stagger around the bar before you are ready to break the seal.

So question: Do you still respect the bloke after you have let him win?; 10:15
TC said...: You posed a lot of questions of women and their drinks... but gave no input. So, what do the blokes at the pub say about women's drinks?; 11:12
Indiana said...: TC: The Blokes at the Pub for once failed to come to a clean consensus...we all agreed that a woman trying to go pint for pint with the guys was generally not a good look. But we also felt conflicted because if she wanted to drink a pint then why shouldn't she. So I guess we recognised the double standard, just as we recognised the irony that we didn't feel the same way when a woman drank the same amount from a bottle...and we were at a loss as to why?

As for what we think the actual tipple says about the drinker...lists are being compiled.; 11:28
GiggleWorthy said...: When I am drinking Vodka Lime & Soda, it says I want to get very drunk but still be on my feet at 5.30am (even if they ARE bleeding from all the dancing I've done).

When I am drinking shots it says I want to get seriously fucking smashed.

When I am drinking Bellini's it says I want to get giggly. (Any other cocktail and I am clearly out with the girls for a good night out).

When I am drinking wine it says I am having dinner somewhere great.

What all of that says about me is: I like to dance, sometimes I just want to get fucked up, I love my girls nights out, I giggle a lot when I am drinking and I like great food.

How easy was that?; 11:48
Amber said...: I don't really think my "regular" drink says anything about me.

I know that I don't like beer, but more power to ya, if you do.

What I drink is solely dependent on my mood, what kind of week I've had, and how high of a price I am willing to pay the next morning at that moment. Oh, and if I'm at a place I'm familiar with or some place new. :)

I generally prefer a blended, Strawberry Margarita, with salt. Although I'll drink Captain Morgan and Diet Vanilla Pespi. If I am looking to get hammered, I'll drink Crown Royal shots, straight. I like a variety of drinks, but like I said... what I'm actually going to go for, depends on the above :).; 11:56
After it all . . . said...: Hmmmm . . . sometimes I feel like beer -- dark beer. When I order dark men, men slow slightly wild and become very interested in me. Why is this?

Otherwise, I'm a red wine girl. This too draws attention. In a good way. Why is that? What's the diff between red wine and white wine?

If I'm in a really wicked mood, I order a dirty martini, extra dirty. Again, lots of attention.

I am ordering what I want to drink - not something I'm looking to get titilation from, and yet, I get the titilation.

Why is that?; 12:09
Scorpy said...: OK...I'll just come out and say it...I'm a drink judger! I judge people by what they drink even though my best mate for many years used to drink 'Bacardi' while we drank Bundy...no one ever called him effeminate as he was one of the toughest soldiers I knew but we all thought it lol
I love a woman that drinks beer...my ex didn't but does now Hmmm I must think about that but the real reason I like it is that it costs the same as what I'm drinking and only takes a few seconds to order or grab from an esky...I don't have to wait for a mixer or a little umbrella LOL; 12:09
After it all . . . said...: BTW, you might think I am drinking right now since I said "when I order dark men . . ."

Nope -- that was just a freudian slip, I guess! :); 12:11
Enigma said...: I,m a Heinekin lover myself.; 12:59
Indiana said...: Giggles: As easy as...erm...on second thoughts I am not THAT brave. :-) So basically you like to drink?

Amber: So the drink depends on the goal? Not the mood?

After it All: Well any girl who orders an "extra dirty" martini is just asking to be hit on. Red wine shows a level of class, a sophistication in drinking that white wine lacks...dark beer, dark men...erm...I have no idea.

As for why you get titilation when you drink...erm...smart money says because you are hot.

Scorpy: But you love those little umbrellas :-) So a woman who drinks beer is all about the lazy factor?

Oh and the toughest soldier I ever knew was a teetotaller...go figure.

After it all: You can have whatever you like as a chaser with your beer. :-)

Enigma: Red lips...green bottle...ok now I am starting to get jealous.; 13:06
sofia said...: when i was still physically capable of more than a pathetic measure, the boys loved it when i simply drank beer along with them while the other girls were fussing over which cocktail. they said it showed decisiveness and a bit of rough-and-ready, and i think the clincher was that i didn't look rough, so what's left is ready?

clearly if you peruse the drinks menu every time, you haven't found something you like enough to call it the usual. but an occasional flip just says you're trying out something new.; 13:17
Enigma said...: very witty Indie (chuckles to herself and slowly shakes head ); 13:45
expat@large said...: As I recollect it, she actually ended up ordering 'ice water'.

I used to be a brandy and dry person, but a) you can only get expensive cognac here, b) you can't get dry at most pubs and c) it now puts me to sleep.

So apart from JD and diet, which is not so much a favorite as a stop-gap, I'll stick with a rich thick beer like Tetleys or Kilkenny.; 14:15
bumbler said...: Oh it depends on the location, the occasion, the company, the intention...but mostly if it's beer night, ie at a sports bar or an irish bar or with a whole bunch of beer guzzling guys then i guzzle Heineken (and ALWAYS get mocked, evil guys!), at least i dont NURSE a damn beer like most women.

Otherwise though my drink of choice is gin and tonics or belvedere vodka, stoli/other russian vodka and tonic. For this i have been accused of being everything between and old english biddy, to a high class hooker, to a posh, understated snob.

And oh, why doesnt anyone else like L. Island Ice tea?

So much analysis i think...i just drink and be merry.; 16:55
Andrea Wh@tever said...: i dun normally drink coz it makes me all giggly and flirtatious. but on occasions when i really need to, i turn uncharacteristically beta with a barcadi-coke. *snorts*; 19:06
Titania said...: But I drink white wine, not red. What does that say about me?; 00:30
savannah said...: i love bumbler's answer! and that's it exactly, different drinks for different times..and yep, if you're gonna drink a beer, damn sure drink it, don't nurse it! and out of the bottle, unless it's a pint glass of guinness. and i adore long island iced tea! but only in the summer ;-); 05:30
Mars said...: I think i like this blog already, and i've only read the first post...

Having more recently in life discovered the absolute god-send that is beer, i find what you are saying quite interesting . I always thought beer was for bogan chicks (and maybe it is..) so i would usually have drunk a mixer or wine.

Anyway... i went to thailand earlier this year and for lack of anything else on offer, became quite accustomed to Tiger beer. Which, i must say, was a pretty good place to start, as far as beers go.

Since then, i have tried all sorts of beer, but i keep coming back to my standard favourite - Carlton. So i dunno what that says about me... it's only a tiny step away from VB and yeah, sure i'll drink a Corona or Stella... but it's a pint of Carlton for me, almost always.

Cheap and easy!; 07:42
M said...: It really depends on my mood and really the place I'm at. I have to say. You know those really HOT nights always feel a little cooler when you have a nice cold beer on your hands. I don't like all beer, but not TOO bitter is good. But I'm not going to drink beer at a wedding for instance. And I'm probably not going to drink beer at a jazz club but I will do so at a rock concert.

Meanwhile normally..I like GnT or vodka orange, or just red wine. Love a good cocktail every now and again (gimlet, or something chocolatey) - but not for always.

Years ago I went out with a few mates and the male mates were ragging on us girls about being weak as piss because we were drinking pots and they were drinking pints. Anyway, we took up the challenge and got ourselves some pints and an hour later ...we were still on the same pints but by that stage they were warm and yuck. Beer is just too filling. They are huge. I'd rather my drink stay cold. You can throw back a vodka and especially a cocktail but beer? It gets stuck in your tummy.

For the record I think girls who drink breezers (and other premixed type drinks) are totally weak! What *is* that? They are shitty drink. It's just bad taste.; 08:51
Tiny said...: I don't really need the drinks list although I might check the wine list to see what wine is available. I don't mind cocktail but I don't usually order it. I either have a glass of wine or beer, and I know what I want ... most of the time.

So, what does that say about me? Too simple-minded? ;-); 12:02
Miss Natalie said...: ohhh i couldnt date a guy that drank lolly water - just not possible.

there was one guy who said he got drunk on 2 beers - gone!

I have my drinks... cab sav in winter. champers in summer and vodka alllll year round!

i do think i was judged a little a few weeks ago when i wanted port *blush*; 13:39