Thursday, June 4, 2009

How do you hold your drink?

Think about the last time you were out at a bar with friends. Now, think about what you were drinking and how you were holding your glass: Casually? Daintily? Firmly?


A new study by psychologist Glenn Wilson for Australian bar chain Walkabout Bars says the way you hold your drink reveals much about your personality. He studied the body language of 500 partyers and divided them into eight personality types.


According to Wilson, the eight types are:
  1. The Flirt: Usually a woman, who holds her glass with dainty, splayed fingers and uses it in a provocative way. She may position it over her cleavage so as to draw attention to her attributes or peer over the rim to make eye contact when taking a sip. She may "tease" the rim of the glass with her finger, perhaps dipping it into the drink and sucking it dry.
  2. The Gossip: This (mainly female) drinker tends to cluster in all-female groups talking about other people, and can be critical. She holds a wine glass by the bowl and uses it to gesticulate and make points in conversation. She is inclined to lean over her drink, in towards others so as to speak confidentially.
  3. The Fun-lover: This type of drinker may be a man or a woman, who drinks to be sociable and values togetherness. A convivial individual, he/she enjoys being with their friends, and likes a laugh. Swigs taken from bottled drinks are short, so they don't miss out on chipping in with the conversation. The bottle is held loosely at its shoulder for ease.
  4. The Wallflower: This is a shy individual who holds the glass protectively, not letting go, as though afraid somebody will take it away. Palms are kept hidden and the glass is used as a social crutch – the drink is never quite finished, with a mouthful left in case of emergency. It may be drunk through a straw, which is fidgeted with, and used to stir the drink between sips.
  5. The Ice-queen: This is a mainly female type whose natural style is cold and defensive. She drinks from a wine glass, or a short glass, which is held firmly in a barrier position across the body so as to deter intimate approaches.
  6. The Playboy: This man is the active, self-confident, Don Juan-type seducer. He uses his (usually long) glass or bottle as a phallic prop, playing with it suggestively.
  7. The Jack the Lad: This "peacock" is conscious of his image and will drink a bottled beer, or cider. Inclined to be confident and arrogant, he can be territorial in his gestures, spreading himself over as much space as possible, for example, pushing the glass well away from himself and leaning back in his chair.
  8. The Browbeater: This pugnacious type is again mostly male. He prefers large glasses, or bottles, which he uses as symbolic weapons, firmly grasped, and gesticulating in a threatening, "in the face" kind of way. Something of a know-it-all, he comes across as slightly hostile, even if only through verbal argument, or jokes targeted at others.
I fall into -- interestingly enough -- The Wallflower category. I grasp my drink with both hands and swirl my straw. But as the night goes on and more drinks are consumed, I quickly become the Fun-lover. Funny how that happens.

Where do you guys stand? Do you use body language to determine whether or not to approach someone?

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think not drinking is an even better idea. Being single, when I go out places I usually look for the cute girl in the crowd who passes on drinks to make conversation with. She's usually the one in her group most interesting to talk to. She won't go on about what drinks she's into, her stupid dog, or how holding a drink defines you.

Anonymous said...

2:17-Is the type you left out...the DB. Which is why you are single!

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately "a 40oz duct taped to each hand" isn't mentioned, so I'm left out I suppose.

Anonymous said...

2:17 One word for you. DUFF

Anonymous said...

What is the allure of drinking anyway? My father was an alcoholic so I definitely saw the "bad" side of drinking. I don't drink nor does my wife but by children do so I'm not criticizing anyone that does. If it's just to be sociable, what's wrong with a non-alcolholic drink?

Anonymous said...

What's the point of drinking a non-alcoholic drink? You should open a bottled water bar and see how business goes...

Anonymous said...

@2:48:

I just opened a bottled water bar called "H2O Face". Business has been brisk, come see us!

Anonymous said...

Drink til I pass out,
I do it every night.

-G.G. Allin

C Harris said...

"How do i hold my drink"

By the grace of god by the end of the night.

Anonymous said...

pathetic...

Anonymous said...

I grab both hips and pull the naval forward. At that time I "slurp" said alcohol from naval area. NEXT?

Anonymous said...

In response to :
Anonymous @ 2:43 pm

Alcohol vs. Non was never mentioned? The question was "How do you hold your "drink"?

It's understandable tha thae having been raised by alcoholics your interpret things as you do, I am not being disrespectful to you, but maybe try to look at things in a different light.

Anonymous said...

Who is going to the club and watching how people hold drinks? Try talking to them and you could find out what they are actually like instead of speculating.Jack D straight up is the only way to drink!

Anonymous said...

I think it's funny when people chide the non-drinker for not drinking alcohol. It's sophomoric behavior but what do you expect from someone that thinks drinking is cool. Just another drug addiction to me.

Dean Martin said...

Whenever I drank my wife got pregnant and I have 5 kids to prove it! I need to go to that H20 bar.

Anonymous said...

Usually the Playboy style, but sometimes it turns into the Jack the Lad style if the crowd isn't too appealing.

Anonymous said...

Why is this front page news on Charlotte.com? The Observer needs to report on legitimate news.

Mary said...

I'm usually the flirt. I have a way of sucking a straw and sliding my tongue along the rim of a glass.

Anonymous said...

Once again, another late breaking report from TCO...geez.

Anonymous said...

Please;
"I think not drinking is an even better idea."
-Well OK that's your opinion, I think you're just trying to let us all know how morally superior you are, which is a pretty sure sign you have self esteem issues, -But hey, that's just My opinion right? "She won't go on about what drinks she's into.." Oh man,you really have no idea do you?

"What is the allure of drinking anyway?"

Well,some people(very very many) find it relaxing, and fun. It offers a chance to loosen up a little and helps people to socialize a little more. There are many good reasons. Not all alcohol consumption resembles a college party or a bum on the side of the road.

A bottled water bar?
Yeah ok, Brisk business must mean what? $300 a week? Come on...

Brittney Cason said...

I am the fun lover as well, and I love this blog! :)Cheers!