Perfect the Drink-and-Run

How to Accept a Drink Offer and Escape Getting Hit-On Afterward

By Sean Hetzel

Girls’ night out! And all gossip is definitely making that chilled bottle of Stoli Blueberi look more and more refreshing.  That’s when you notice the gentleman nearby wearing a fine looking Gucci shirt and John Bartlett tie who is glancing at you with a different kind of thirsty look in his eye. The minx in you thinks, Why pay for my own Stoli when I can get a Belvedere from this seemingly deep-pocketed fellow for free? However, you simultaneously weigh that option with the ever-present fact that there is no such thing as a free drink. While something top-shelf would indeed be delectable, you really are out to have some light, casual fun with your girlfriends. Is it worth the come-ons that your beverage benefactor will douse you with after whetting your lips with some premium liquor? What to do, what to do?

The reality is a woman usually pays for her “free” drinks with her time and attention.  While sometimes a little conversation accompanying a drink is welcome, many times it is not.  When presented with a drink offer from a man who lands in the latter category, the two obvious choices are: 

1)      Bite the bullet and try to enjoy your drink while wiping his drool off your face.

2)      Avoid said drool but pay the outrageous libation prices charged at the hottest hot spots out of your own pocket.

Lose-lose right? Well, before you give up, keep in mind there may be third option. Check out these clever ways some chicks have discovered to accept a man’s drink offer while politely avoiding any mind-numbing dialogue if the interest is in the drink, not the dude.

Request a dance to escape romance

“After he buys you a drink but before he can start talking, ask him to dance, and then lose him out on the dance floor,” says Karen, 25, a teacher from New Jersey.  This, of course, mainly applies to venues with ample dance territory, but generally speaking, the more crowded the dance area, the better this technique will work.

Find the ladies room to prevent your doom

“After he buys you a drink, just say, ‘Oh, I have to go to the bathroom; I’ll back in a minute,’ then walk to the other side of the bar after you come out,” says Lisa, 23, a deli clerk from Westchester, NY.  Keep in mind when putting this into effect that you need to initially be a good distance away from the bathroom so that when you exit, you won’t risk walking by your suitor on the way to another part of the establishment.  The “it’s not what you say, but how you say it” rule applies here as well. “The man will sometimes say, ‘Wait, where are you going?’ so you have to always keep a smile on your face and in a flirty way, keep saying, ‘I’ll be back, I’ll be back,’” says Karen.

Try strength in numbers to sidestep blunders

It comes in handy to have friends you can rely on, especially in times like these. “If I was with a girlfriend, I would ask the guy who bought me a drink to buy her one also,” says Ashley, 26, a senior auditor from Washington, D.C.  You may make some guy’s night by requesting this, as he thinks he might get numbers from two girls, but usually by eliminating the prospect of one-on-one time with the man, you successfully make your intentions known.  If there is a male friend present with you, this message gets across even clearer.

A large highball glass = More time with dumbass

This one is for all you “nice girls” out there who may feel a pang of conscience when considering pulling a disappearing act on your clueless drink dispenser. “If you feel obligated to talk to a guy until you are finished with your drink, suggest a shot instead so you can get it down quick and feel guilt-free about walking away,” says Karen.  In other words, at least in this case, size (of the glass) does matter.

A smoldering stick can do the trick

Thank indoor smoking bans for this one. “If you want a quick exit, you can go outside to smoke or pretend to smoke a cigarette and either not come back in, or come back in and relocate your position,” says Lisa.  When executing this play, be aware that you cannot bring a drink outside with you, so you may have to be ready to endure a few minutes of getting hit on until you finish your beverage if you are consuming something other than a shot.

A slight turning may relieve stomach-churning

Body language is a paramount form of communication in many situations, and this one is no different. “I either turn my head or turn my body away from him,” says Lisa, “but it doesn’t always get the point across and then you are stuck with the guy creepily standing close behind your back and breathing on your neck.” If the “turn-away” is not getting the message across, try the I-got-lost-in-the-mall stare. “I might still be facing him, but I will act like I am looking for someone,” says Karen. “I will pick my head up and look over him and avoid eye contact.”

A friend in need does the deed

This particular method of dude deterrence is unique in that it is to be used after you have playfully flirted with your vodka vendor for a little while, planting the false idea in his head that each tasty drink he brings you improves his chances of hooking up. “Once the guy makes his move for my phone number, I have a friend on standby that will sit in a nearby chair pretending to sleep,” says Lisa. “When that time comes, I say ‘she’s so drunk that I have to get her home.’”

When in doubt, spell it out

If all else fails, be direct! “If he is not reading your signs, sometimes you have to be a little rude to get your point across,” says Lisa, “But when you are out at a crowded bar, chances are you will never see the same people again, so don’t be afraid to be bold.”

Or, if you still wish to be polite, smile and say “Thank you so much for the drink. That was so flattering but I need to go chat with some other friends now.”

If he doesn’t get it then well…you can always “accidentally” spill it and run!