Question of the Day - 20 March 2019

Is there any point to distinguishing between buying drinks and receiving free drinks while gambling or in a Diamond or VIP Lounge?  I often drink in Vegas, but I haven't "paid" for a drink in at least 15 years.

I don’t drink much, but when I do, someone else is paying for it. 

...not enough to forget.

I wish you would cover real beer in your happy hour/drink coverage.  No, Bud, Bud Light, Amstel Light, PBR (seriously?), and Heineken don't count as real beer!

3or 4

Drink my liquor straight. Now some casinos are giving you a half or quarter(!) of an ounce as a "shot". So sorry can't participate in this poll. Not gonna say that I have 10-24 drinks a day out there!

Way more than 6 a day.  Comped and since I am RFB, st the bar.

Usually 2-4 comped drinks while playing.  Usually a glass of wine or a cocktail with dinner. Agree 100% with B Nelson, below, that I wish you would cover more real beer! 

Any more than that and I begin to gamble poorly.

 Way more than 6, mostly beer almost always comped, if not from casino store or my own  when we can't  get service in the sports book while playing VP. 

I would think the poll should be specifically how many a day, and a different poll could be on whether most of your drinks are comped (maybe having a sub question of at VP, slots, casino bar on whatever machine, tables, etc.), purchased at a bar, brought from the room, purchased at a convenience store, purchased with a meal, etc. Typically I'm a mix of most of the above, we usually stop at the supermarket and get beer and wine for the room to insure that we have quality beverages when desired, and then mostly get comped drinks unless we're at a restaurant or walking around.

we like to relax and play VP while sipping on a margarita or a baileys and coffee.  Usually 3-4 per day.

Probably three starting with a bloody mary in the morning.

Kurt has made some points. Definitely need more choices than just numbers. Does tipping cocktail waitress while playing count as buying? At casino bar while playing?  At casino bar when not playing.  With meals? Add bring for a screwdriver or bloody mary in room before heading out for the day. Is there a distinction between beer, wine a shot or a mixed drink?

I've found that with even one drink, my concentration is off just a bit, my judgment is slightly impaired, my ability to calculate is lessened, and my inhibitions are diminished. Two drinks, those effects increase. More than that, I become a tourist.
It's brutally hard to find and maintain even the slightest of edges when gambling these days, and figuratively hitting my brain with a hammer (repeatedly) all but guarantees that I'll play poorly and be a loser. So, I smile at the pretty girl and order a diet Coke.

When I come to Vegas it is typically to gamble, drink, and eat. I'd say almost every day I'm here I drink more than 6 beverages.

You might want to break it down further at the top end as I know plenty of folks who go all day long and the night.  I.E.:

6-8
8-10
10-12
12 or more

I agree you need more top end choices
You might ask a question at the end would you say 25 percent of your drinks are comp 25-50 percent comped 50 to 75 etc.
Maybe the same questions asking how many are purchased with coupons. I try not to think about how much I drink. Will be interested in results

I'm from Wisconsin, so we don't even start counting until we've had a six-pack! I'd suggest more options in the higher range. For example:
0
1-2
3-5
6(six-pack)
7-9
10-11
12(12-pack)
13-17
18(18-pack)
19-I forgot

Kurt makes excellent points/distinctions. The older I get, the less I drink but the higher the quality. At nite, it's all bourbon now and I want it off the top shelf. If I can't get it comped through my play, I'll pay--and never more than 2 full-pour drinks. In the morning, if I really want a bloody mary, I know the poker bars where you can get a good one for regular, full coin-in quarter poker (Red Rock's the best, Rampart next). On the other hand, at champagne brunches, I'm a cheap date. I'll drink several glasses, good or bad, eat some eggs and carbs, and stagger away to have some fun. I'm always a little sorry later but not enuff it give it up! 

5+

The poll question doesn't fit with the description of what is of interest.  A raw number of drinks consumed daily (including while at machines/tables) may not provide much of the data you seek.

Suggestions:

Aside from drinking at machines/tables, what factors influence your drinking while in Las Vegas?
 - I wait for happy hours to start drinking. [maybe that covers extending the hours as well?]
 - I drink only at machines/tables, where happy hours are not a factor.
 - I will try a different bar or eatery to redeem a good drink coupon.
 - I will try a different casino if I have a drink coupon.
 - Coupons for more than one drink are definitely desirable.
 - I won't pay for a designer drink, but a coupon for one would be used (and perhaps I'd pay for another!).
 - I don't drink alcohol, but would use a coupon for a soft drink, coffee, hot chocolate.
 - I would use a 2 for 1 drink coupon.
 - I won't use a 2 for 1 drink coupon.
 - I don't like the hassle of using a coupon.
  

Hubby and I are not big drinkers by Vegas standards, and generally don't consume alcohol while we're playing craps.  At the end of the day, however, when we're playing video poker, we might each consume 2-4 beverages, comped. Notice I said "might".  We also may not drink any alcoholic beverages on a particular day. And like some other respondents, we want top shelf liquor.  Having said that, I like Candy Wright's suggestions for breaking down the question to several categories.

I long for the day when marijuana usage will be as common as alcohol usage. Both will impair one's play to a certain extent and there are other similarities with the exception being i've never, EVER run into a mean mj user, yet mean and sloppy drunks are relatively commonplace. The tide is turning on mj and its benefits compared to alcohol or worse, opioids. Open up those minds on the subject folks. You'll be enlightened and possibly impressed by what you discover. The feds created many untrue myths on mj back in the 30's & 40's to further their own agendas. Nothing new there when it came to propaganda and using it as they did. One should tune in to the old movie from the 30's, "Reefer Madness" and see what a scare job and load of misinformation it peddled. Tsk tsk tsk Anyway, hoping to live long enough to have a pretty refreshment waitress ask me, while gambling, if i'd like another bowl of Maui Wowie or will the last one hold me for a while. Nah, I'm good. HAHAHA  
Peace

I can certify that there is at least one very mean MJ user on the planet...ME!  Around 1978-79 or so I puffed on a joint for the first time while at a gathering of friends.  Hell I didn't even know how to inhale, since I had never smoked cigs.  They had to coach me, but I guess I finally managed to get enough in my system.

In no time at all I felt myself turning angry, paranoid, hated everyone in the room including my husband.  Miserable! I had enough sense left to know this was abnormal and told husband to get me outta there.

Another week or so, same gathering of friends, another puff on a joint, same thing happened.  (To nobody else that I knew of, BTW.) From that day on, no more MJ for me.  I won't even try those CBD gummies and pills and drops and things sold OTC for whatever condition, supposedly without THC.  I don't need more paranoia...LOL.

I'd have more than just a drink or two if only waitresses showed up more often (yes, I tip), if only I weren't the driver, if only I felt safe (esp as female) showing any sign of inebriation, if only so much walking wasn't required - even Downtown. 

While they aren't free, it's hard not to take advantage of the drinks while playing slots and VP.  6 or more a day, easy.

usually stay for 7 nights, buy a case for "room" beer and than usually 4-5 per night while gambling - some nights less, some nights more. I usually go through DT's when I get home (just kidding).

6 or more, come on its Vegas!

I  guess I need to loosen up.  If we stay for 7 nights I may have 4 drinks and two of those are free on the plane coming and going.  I mostly will have a comped Bailey’s and Hot Chocolate while playing Rapid Roulette in the evening.  Maybe a glass of wine at dinner.  I may need to up my game. ;-)

Several pails full of alcohol. Alot of the coupons aren't a value compared to comped while gambling. 3 rounds for 2 @ Ellis is still a must do though.