So true about turning any activity into drinking-huge red flag...
Creating parties for just about any reason? Groundhog day? It snowed out?
Other things bartenders notice...problem drinkers like to have their drinks in the same glass/ice. They don't like to start fresh and lose some of the original drink. Normal drinkers like to start fresh so it's not watered down. Bloody Mary's are just an excuse to drink early in the day. I was told by a bar manager "don't ever worry about making a martini the right way. All they want is the straight booze and it's a way to order it without sounding bad" He was right. I've even left out vermouth and people said it was a great drink. People that just want to stare at the tv and are annoyed by music and conversation are also ones to watch. They want to be in a drinking world and tune everything out.
Thislonelygirl, you're right-you do see how useless it is. How much wasted money and time. How people are chasing happiness from a bar stool instead of getting out there and creating it.