How to respectfully turn down free drinks

[socialleper]

Or Old Rip Van Winkle 25…

There you go!

 

[J Wilson]

I ran into this once or twice, and luckily both times we were on a 5 or 6 month house band situation, so I knew everyone behind the bar and the ladies working the room. I can't drink, never could.

So, when this would happen, they'd send me a coke in a glass, and I'd tell the guy I appreciated him buying me a bourbon and coke. I stayed sober, the bar made the money, the girl got the tip, and he got to think he was a FOB.

 

[Bruiser Stone]

“Due to a rare medical condition, I can’t consume fluids orally. But I appreciate it.”

 

[Koshchei]

Just to share the other side....the bar is there to sell drinks and the band are glorified beer salesmen. With that in mind its counterproductive to turn drinks down that a patron is paying for...but it doesn't mean you have to drink them.

You don't work for the bar and are not a glorified beer salesman. If your fans want to spend some money to memorialize the night, sell them a t-shirt.

 

[groovaholic]

Or Old Rip Van Winkle 25…

Is that a play on Pappy Van Winkle?

 

[Aussie Player]

The jury is still out on that one - a few other things could have killed him.

Regardless, you never know what you're going to get with a random drink that is handed to you.

50 or so years ago, I played a gig where the guitarist was sober 1 minute and off his face literally minutes later from a free drink.

Made an impression on me to the point that I am one of the only 70+ baby boomers who has never even had a single puff on a joint. Never taken illegal drugs and avoid instantly anyone playing that tune.
Absolutely no apologies for it either.

 

[5StringBlues]

Sorry man, my brain worms are allergic to alcohol.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Based on past experience, where a band member ended up in the ER due to a patron bringing her a spiked drink, we no longer touch anything that has not been delivered by bar staff.
It's our rule, and the rule at said club since then. Perhaps you could let the bar management/staff in on the situation. If the person is a regular, shouldn't be too much trouble to have them simply pour alcohol-free sodas when this dude steps up to the bar. I'd bet good money he makes them well aware who he's buying for.
Agree with most other methods listed so far to try and squelch this behavior.

Exception: Eye drops?
Being curious, here's a quick interwebs search/quote about it's effects:
"Swallowing even small amounts can lead to seizures, cardiovascular collapse, and coma."
Um, no, just don't do it. The guy's heart seems to be in the right place. Vengeful injury or possible death is just not called for.
(I'm sure it was meant as a funny, but I just had to know...)

It was in the movie "Wedding Crashers"

 

[Wood and Wire]

There is a person who is well known in the area with a really bad reputation that attends our bands live shows. He is always buying the band drinks and makes it a point to bring them up to the stage while we are playing and sets them in front of us. When its break time we are then hounded by this person who attempts to look like a friend. Any suggestions on how to politely avoid this individual?

Pretend to already be staggering drunk, and keep accidentally knocking over any drinks he puts on the stage.

 

[Matt-J2]

Is that a play on Pappy Van Winkle?

Not exactly. ORVW is the distillery(sort of, see Buffalo trace) and what's on the label for a few age statements (10yr, 12yr is Van Winkle Special Reserve). Pappy Van Winkle is on the 15, 20, and 23yr bottles.

The 25 is in a whole different bottle/case style and is labeled Old Rip Van Winkle again.

 

[SLO Surfer]

I used to accept free drinks from audience members until I got roofied in Reno. Now I just say no thanks. If they insist, their drink stays where they leave it or gets carried back to the bar.

 

[dalkowski]

Insist on something made with toppest-shelf liquor (nothing says you have to actually drink it) and see how long his generosity holds out.

 

[smurfco]

You don't work for the bar and are not a glorified beer salesman.

I mean... you kind of do and you kind of are? Why else are they hiring you? For their health?

As for liquor drinks, a pro tip is to take a very dark-colored bottle of beer or two, empty it out / rinse it, have it on stage with you. When someone hands you a liquor drink, you pretend to drink it (but don't swallow), then mime like you're chasing it with a swig of beer, but what you're really doing is spitting it into the empty beer bottle. You can make it look pretty realistic with some practice. That way you look like you're being gracious and appreciative, but you're not actually drinking anything.

Plus, people will be astounded at how you keep pounding hard liquor and not getting drunk!

 

[DaveParker39]

"I don't drink" has always worked for me.

 

[NKBassman]

Just thank him for the drinks, indulge him for 5 minutes, and then scatter.
If he persists, then go make yourself busy with something elsewhere.
If he persists further, be as rude as you need to be to shut it down.

 

[gln1955]

You don't work for the bar and are not a glorified beer salesman. If your fans want to spend some money to memorialize the night, sell them a t-shirt.

If you play at a bar, who are you working for?

 

[FrenchBassQC]

"No thanks I'll pass, but you can give them to the drummer, is about to get fired."

 

[aprod]

Never turn down a drink. You are there do make money for the establishment. You don't have to drink it but let the man spend his money.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Nothing wrong with a bit of play-acting: I always accept it with thanks, pretend to sip and then park it on the floor by my amp. When we break, it mysteriously disappears—into a sink or I just leave it at the bar.

 

[Dbassmon]

To the OP,

Is this really a problem? I am sure you can figure this out without our help.
Probably just a lonely guy. Have some empathy, the rest will take care of itself.