How To Get Someone to Buy You a Drink

Have you ever noticed how some people are able to go into a bar or pub and never seem to have to buy a drink? And, I don't just mean the gorgeous woman sitting at the end bar stool who has a line of guys waiting to buy her a drink. I've seen many nerdy guys with pocket protectors spend an entire evening in a bar without ever reaching for their wallets.

What, you might well ask, is the secret to their amazing ability to get other people to fund their libations? Well, it's really no secret. There are a few tried and true ways to get someone to buy you a drink in any place, at any time.

• The first way is amazingly simple: just ask.  You might be surprised to learn that some people, when asked directly, are more than happy to treat.  People in bars quite often want to engage in conversation, and are willing to buy a drink or two for that privilege.  Once, while waiting for my plane in a bar at the airport in Albuquerque, I was making notes in my journal when an attractive woman sitting next to me asked what I was so studiously writing. "Buy me a drink, and I'll tell you," I replied.  She actually bought me several as I explained my habit of recording in my writer's journal a record of the things I observe during my travels.
• Old-fashioned water pumps used to require you to pour in a cup or two of water before they would work.  This was called ‘priming the pump.' It works in bars too.  Offer politely to buy a person a drink, and it is likely to be repaid many times over. It's also a good way to open a conversation.
• Join in a conversation and have something interesting to add.  If you have an interesting story to tell, people will often buy you drinks just to get it out of you.  I was once in charge of the Defense agency responsible for recovery of remains of soldiers killed in past wars.  In more than one bar, in answer to the casual question, "what do you do for a living?" I responded, "I find missing persons." This cryptic answer always led to a flurry of questions; from that point on, I never had to buy another drink.
• Don't look desperate.  No one wants to get hooked up with a morose drunk.  Try to look relaxed and interesting, or even possibly, mysterious.  If people want to talk to you, they are often willing to buy a drink or two.  In addition to my journal, I work puzzles - in ink.  My favorites are diagramless puzzles with cryptic clues.  People who see me do this in bars almost always comment on it, and buy me drinks while I explain the process of working them out.  I also carry a sketch book and make cartoons or little character sketches. This has attracted interest, and drinks, on many occasions.

Getting people to buy you a drink is not all that difficult.  The key is to be interesting and outgoing, without being pushy.  And on a final note, always remember to say thank you.