Dating & Drinking Etiquette: 4 Rules To Live By

You're on a first date and it's time to order a beverage. Should you drink?

It depends on your ultimate goal. If you're seeking a great relationship, then your first date should be all about discovering basic compatibility, including chemistry. Since alcohol fosters false chemistry, the first rule of dating and drinking etiquette is this:

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1. Don't drink on the first date. There's plenty of time to enjoy that little buzz together later, once you establish compatibility.

On the first date it's essential to be level-headed and to ask great questions, such as my all-time favorite suggestion for single clients: "How long has it been since your last relationship and why did it end?" If you are stone-cold sober, you will listen more attentively, learning far more than you can while drinking.

So now you're on a second date, and you've decided that it's okay to drink now. You order first, requesting your favorite cocktail. He orders second, and opts for an iced tea. Oops! Is this a dating faux pas or par for the course?

In the language of love, it's a problem. Here's why: Unconsciously we look for someone who is similar, with whom we feel in sync. Couples that last mirror one another in lots of subtle ways from the first date onward.

So, when he orders iced tea and you order alcohol, you are already out of sync. It's a tiny disconnect, but one that can influence whether or not he asks you on the next date. Thus, the second rule of dating and drinking etiquette is this:

2. Let him order his beverage first! If he orders a non-alcoholic beverage, follow suit by ordering water, soda or tea. If he orders something alcoholic, you can choose wine or a cocktail. Of course, if you never drink, be true to yourself. You don't have to drink alcohol to get another date. Continue reading.

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