Buying drinks/being bought drinks

[Martin89]

I usually buy drinks for people I am with and have only bought drinks for somebody I didn't know when it was a cool bassist that let me sit in; I may have bought the soundman a drink too that night lol.

Buying drinks for strangers that I am in a conversation with wouldn't really be a big deal for me though.

Accepting drinks from strangers, not a big deal for me either. When I go to a bar I have expectations on what I am going to spend and what I am going to drink, if the first one is lower than expected that is never a bad thing.

 

[MatticusMania]

Only people I ever buy drinks for are friends.

Sometimes I get a drink bought for me at gigs, but I'll only drink it if brought to me by a bartender/server. There was this one time I got roofied at a show, not a fun experience. I didn't go down (I'm not a small guy, and can handle my stuff), but that last set was no fun at all.

You were sabbotaged by another band who wanted your gig!

I think buying a drink for a woman is a little outdated. But if I'm playing and a guy offers to buy my girl a drink while I'm on stage, I dont get offended. Thats just more money in my pocket.

Same here. Ive been playing at a bar while my wife was hanging out at a table alone, watching us play. If a guy wants to ignore the ring on her finger and buy her a drink thats on him. If he assumed buying her a drink would lead to anything more, well, he should have paid attention to the ring. One time a dude bought my wife a drink and he ran into me sometime later in the bar and told me my wife was very nice. I thanked him for the compliment and carried on.

One time when I was single I went to the bar by myself for a few pints and some flirting with the bartender. It was a wednesday night and pretty dead inside. I sit down and order a mug of beer. As Im drinking, this guy a few seats down starts making conversation between myself and the bartender, and then starts talking to me. He was former marine, recently off of service. He was a bit rowdy, punched me in the arm a few times, and was spewing out "this and thats" of a drunk guy whose opinions do not align with my own. I wasnt going to start anything and would just nod my head to humor the guy. He tells me, at one point, "youre my new drinking buddy" and then tells the bartender to put my drinks on his tab. I only paid for the first one that night, had some interesting semi-conversation, and went home with a bruise on my arm. I'd do it all again!

 

[MatticusMania]

It's starting to sound like that this practice is more of a Canadian thing. I posted this originally thinking that it's quite universal (universal in north american culture). Mark me surprised!

Though most guys here are stating otherwise, it is quite the common practice for guys to buy ladies drinks while out at a bar or club. We just happen to have a higher caliber of men here, being that we're all level headed bass players.

And this:

Roughly speaking ...

Offer of drink before conversation has started = "I want to get in your pants"

Offer of drink once conversation has started = "I'm enjoying your company and want to continue doing so"

 

[macaroni tony]

Now, let me just say it's been forever since anyone offered to buy me a drink at a bar/club since I don't go out anymore (and if I do, it's with my man) but I was just thinking about this the other day and was hoping you guys could help me answer some questions.

I don't know the etiquette when it comes to someone buying me a drink because I don't know their intention.

My usual response is, "No, thanks." because:
1. I bring enough money to cover myself and a few for friends when I go out.
2. I am taken and do not want the other party to waste their money and time on me only to be lead on.
3. I don't want to feel like I have to stick around and talk to them (if that is what a drink 'buys').

But I am also aware that some people would buy another person a drink 'just because' or if they wanted a chat, with no end-result in mind (such as getting my number/monopolizing my night). I don't want to offend by rejecting, either.

So, men of TB. When you go up to a stranger (to make it easier, a gender of your attraction) and offers to buy them a drink, what is your usual intention? Is it rude to not accept? What's the deal and what is the etiquette?!

It's not rude not to accept...just stick with your "No, thanks." No one is offering you a drink out of the goodness of their heart! The goal is to get some, at some point