👋Hey girlies! It’s Madelyn here!!

Today we are going to cover a topic that gets me buzzin’ and maybe you too, if you’re sober you may not enjoy this week’s topic, but maybe you’re still curious about some stats! ALCOHOL!! I asked Bailey what she wanted to do tonight and we both agreed we would like to get out of the house and mosey on down to our local dive bar. Then I realized tomorrow is Thursday, hence, I need to write a newsletter! We were debating on having a drink prior to going out while we get ready and wait for our friend to come over. This got me thinking, what’s the actual cost deference between going out and drinking vs. staying in and drinking / or pregaming at your place before calling that Uber to come snag ya. (What we decided to do tonight.) Let’s put on our beer goggles and take a look.

🍾Tequila, Vodka, Whiskey, OH MY!!

Whatever your drink of choice, it will still apply to my research.🤓🔍 Today we will go with my drink of choice because well…I’m the one with the keyboard. TEQUILA!!!🎉 

⬆️⬇️You a top or bottom?

Get your mind out of the gutter, we are not talking about sexual preference or which way the fitted sheet goes on your mattress. We are talking about shelves, or ✨tiers✨ if you will. I usually slide myself into that mysteriously grimy bar stool and ask for a tequila shot right off the bat. I am a sloot for salt and a lime. (And in my head, a shot at the start of the night ends up saving me money…girl math.) The bartender will then reply with some sort of, “top or bottom shelf?” which I will reply, “The lowest of the bottoms.” Because I’m a budgeting girly…but in my world of fantasy, and this newsletter, we are going with a brand that’s more on the high end…Patron.

Okay lets begin with the math.👩‍🏫 A fifth of Patron in the USA costs approximately $52.99. Now if you were to order a shot of Patron tequila in the USA it will cost you on average between $5-$15, obviously there are many factors that come into play here. The type of bar you are at, where in the US you are, the bars own preference on pricing. Since Patron is on the higher end of tequilas, we will go with $12.50 for one shot. A shot is usually around 1.5floz. A fifth contains 25.36floz. Just by these numbers I’m calculating that a bar will make approximately $317 on one bottle of tequila if they sold that whole bottle at $12.50 shots. Holy F bomb! I’d much rather pay for a whole bottle from the store at $52.99 than a whole bottle at the bar, draining $317 out of my pockets.

👍The Pros of Drinking at Home

….There Are Literally No (financial) Cons

Drinking at Home:

• Lower Cost of Alcohol: When you buy alcohol from a store, you generally pay a lower price per serving compared to the markup at a bar.

• No Bar Markup: You won't be paying the additional cost that bars add to the price of drinks to cover expenses and make a profit.

• Mix Your Own Drinks: Making your own cocktails or mixed drinks at home allows you to control the amount and type of alcohol and mixers you use.

• No tip: You wont have to pay an extra amount for tipping your server. (Unless your hot significant other makes you a drink, maybe a smooch is in store.)

👎The Cons of Drinking Out on the Town

• Higher Drink Prices: Bars often charge higher prices for alcoholic beverages due to overhead costs, such as rent, staff, and licensing fees.

• Service Tips: Tipping bartenders is essential unless you’re an asshole (or perhaps they were an asshole) either way, you should always tip your server.

• Transportation Costs: If the bar is not within walking distance, you may need to pay for a ride there and back, unless you have a sober designated driver.

• Entertainment Costs: Some bars charge cover fees, and you might spend more on entertainment like live music or the atmosphere in general. It costs $10 to get into our favorite gay nightclub, I say favorite, but the standards are LOW! (Plus its literally the only gay nightclub in our city. Gotta love the midwest!) 🪩

In summary, drinking at home is typically more cost-effective when it comes to the price of alcohol itself. However, the total cost difference can depend on various factors, including your drinking habits, location, and whether you factor in additional expenses such as transportation and entertainment. To determine the precise cost savings, it's a good idea to analyze your personal spending patterns and compare them to the cost of buying alcohol for home consumption.

Some Other Notable Factors…

Quality and Experience:

• At-Home Control: When drinking at home you have control over how heavy your pours are, what you want to mix your drinks with, any favorite garnishes, trying that cute recipe you saw on Pinterest AND if you have preferred glassware, break that ish out! (Bailey makes this shot called a Watermelon Candy Shot, it’s tequila, watermelon schnapps and hot sauce. Then she garnishes it with a freakin’ watermelon sour patch kid and tajin on the rim!) SO FREAKIN GOOD & CUTE OMG!!!!🔥

• Comfort and Personalization: At home, you are the DJ!!🎧🎵 You have decision making power in the palm of your hand, invite your friends over without the stress of running into trouble or unfavorable people out at the bar. The vibes are in your control, at our place we usually have spotify playing variations of Taylor Swift and throwbacks, then sometimes we wander into Divorced Dad Playlist…this includes Nickleback and Hinder, (shout out Karsen for screaming “How You Remind Me” with me last night. Absolute queen.) Light that incense, turn on our pink neon light that reads, “girls, girls, girls” and of course we have our freakin cats!!) Vibes are amazing and the bathroom and pantry are close by.

• Safety: This is a very important factor when alcohol is involved. It’s all fun and games until someone gets too drunk. Whether it be crying, getting aggressive or getting sick. Your friends can crash at your place, your room is nearby if you need to call it a night early, and there are no sketchy people who may cause harm. PLUS YOU HAVE UNLIMITED ACCESS TO WATER! GET THAT TAP RUNNING AND REMEMBER TO HYDRATE!!! CHUG CHUG CHUG (water)!!! Like seriously, drink a glass of water between each drink, you will thank yourself in the morning.

Social Aspects:

• Friend Gatherings: Like themes? Make your pals dress however you’d like. You can customize the drinks you offer to go along with the theme too, which I think is so fun! Not feeling too crazy? Have your friends come over in their pajamas, bring a bottle of wine to share and put on some comfort movies.

  

   

• Outdoor Activities: Feeling more outdoorsy? Have a picnic or a beach outing! (Be aware of your locations rules about drinking in public.) If you’re at home and have the yard space, set up yard games! Water balloon fights, cornhole, dizzybat, or make up your own! (You can literally go back to that childhood space of playing with your friends outside…but this time, there’s alcohol!)

Savings Strategies:

• Happy Hour Wisdom: Early bird special! Early nights out mean early nights back in and in bed, but it also means you made it to happy hour! Happy hours provide discounted prices and sometimes even deals on appetizers. You get a deal on drinks and food and you’re back home and in bed, that’s a true slay in my book! 💅

• Shared Plates: Sharing is caring!🫶 When you share apps with your people, you can split prices. This gives you the opportunity to try more dishes, while still keeping the cost down.

Budget-Friendly Alternatives:

• Potluck Parties: Who doesn’t love a potluck party?! Invite your girls, gays and theys over with the cover at the door being a dish to pass and a fun spirit to share. This creates a fun and collaborative atmosphere with your friends. I personally love this idea, we have done similar to this with our friends and I want to try this with a little friendly competition where at the end we all have to vote for our favorite drinks based on taste, presentation and creativeness.

• DIY Bar Nights: DIY bar nights at home, where friends bring their favorite spirits and mixers. Each person can take turns being the bartender, creating a unique experience without the bar tab. Come up with your own bartender persona and make your friends laugh while simultaneously getting them buzzed. (This is a basic recipe for a good time.)

🥂Cheers, you made it to the end!

That's a wrap for today, girly pops! We've navigated the winding paths of bar tabs, home gatherings, and the salty world of tequila. So, whether you're a fan of top-shelf luxury or prefer the comfort of your own home, remember that the power of choice is in your hands. The beauty of enjoying your time lies in the experiences, the laughter, and the people you choose to surround yourself with. As the night unfolds, let's toast to quality moments, affordable gatherings, and staying safe along the way. Sip responsibly, dance your butt off (even if you move like a injured praying mantis), and relish every sip of life. Until next week, stay hydrated and keep those glasses raised high.

Cheeaaaaaz! 🥳🍸🎉

Madelyn