No shots for me, please
If we men could just say that and get away with it, the world would be a better place.
If you're a dude, you know what I'm talking about: You're out at a bar, drinking beer with your buddies and all the sudden, one of said "buddies" orders a round of whiskey for everybody. He doesn't bother to ask if everybody wants one -- he just orders a round.
I hate this guy.
This guy puts everybody in an awkward situation. You see, as men, it is impossible for us to refuse a shot when it is presented to us. That would be unthinkable. That would be ... unmanly. And the last thing a drinking man wants to be is ... unmanly ...
This is the same logic that gets men into bar fights. Once the gauntlet is thrown, it can't be picked back up again. You can't refuse the shot after it's been ordered and set in front of you. Not only would you be branded as a sissy and embarrassed in front of all your friends, the shot would go to waste. And as Grandmom always used to say, "How dare you waste this drink when, somewhere in China, people are going thirsty?!?!?'
Since you have to take the shot, you take the shot.
But taking a shot of whiskey on a stomach full of beer is like chugging vinegar on a belly full of baking soda. There's only one word that properly describes the feeling:
"FOOM!"
So here we are, at the end of this little episode, and what have we learned? Tell your "buddy" not to order shots unless everybody wants one. That's the only way to head off disaster before it starts.
(Photo by Elizabeth Malby/Sun photographer)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
based on what you say, it would seem to me that refusing the shot would be more manly as you would knowingly suffer the ridicule and abuse of your so called "friends" who are making you do something you don't want to do.
another of Grandmom's sayings is " if your friends jumped off a perfectly good bridge, would you follow them?"
Posted by: Pops | January 20, 2009 12:03 PM
Call me unmanly but if i'm driving I can't do the shot. I've turned them down before and been made fun of by my buddies, but once the beer starts I can't do the liquor. Don't worry though somebody always does the shot.
Posted by: Sturmy | January 20, 2009 12:04 PM
Amen.
Posted by: neal s | January 20, 2009 12:33 PM
As long as he's ordering Jack Daniel's and not Peach Snapps, I'm cool.
Seriously, rough week Sam?
Posted by: GMan | January 20, 2009 12:37 PM
forget the beer, just go straight to the shots
Posted by: karlosi | January 20, 2009 12:52 PM
You know me though...i love to drink! A free drink to me is a good thing! But the bad thing is they put us in a situation to have to buy 10 other fools a shot...and I'm a tightwad with my cash!
Posted by: Tim Lumber | January 20, 2009 12:57 PM
If you don't want to drink a shot and you are drinking a beer, the best thing to do is to spit the shot back into the beer bottle, then just order another bottle of beer. This way you don't have to insult anybody and you still look "manly".
Posted by: jason | January 20, 2009 1:37 PM
My dilemma is that I love Jager, but so many people reeeeally hate it. I end up having to ask what people want, and then buy one Jager and whatever Buttery Nipple, Alabama Slammer or Washington Apple-type shot they want..
Posted by: duffster | January 20, 2009 2:35 PM
What about starting a Midnight Sun Challenge Coin, like they do in the service. Everyone gets one for your organization.....you walk into the bar, start rapping your challenge coin on the table or bar and whoever doesn't produce one has to buy the round of drinks, your choice. No exceptions. The Air Force handled their bar drinking this way.....should work for you civilians. From a gal who loves those coins. :)
Posted by: JoJo Free | January 20, 2009 2:47 PM
Alot of guys not trying to look unmanly to "friends" laid the ground work for an alcholic future. Not being able to say no when it is the right thing sounds very wimpy, at very least.
Posted by: Stebbin | January 20, 2009 7:12 PM
I always turn down the shot while I'm driving, but once we get to McDonalds, I'm good to go!
Posted by: Chuck Niver | January 20, 2009 8:33 PM
Mcdonalds sells shots?
Sweet!
" Qp w/ cheese & a shot of Jack to go, Please."
Looks like I gotta move to Baltimore. Can't even get liquor in a convenience store over here on the Eastern shore!
Posted by: ss2 | January 21, 2009 12:31 PM