Beverage Choices as Signals of Character: Coffee at Interviews and Cocktails on Dates
Source: Eddie Scarry. "Here's The Truth About Coffee In Interviews And Cocktails On Dates." September 25, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author argues that what you drink and when reveals a lot about your character, so job seekers shouldn't bring iced coffee to interviews (it looks unprofessional) and single men shouldn't order fruity cocktails on dates (it looks weak). He says simple, 'strong' drinks like bourbon or beer signal seriousness and toughness, while sugary drinks signal laziness or an inability to handle discomfort.
Conclusion
People should avoid bringing iced coffee to job interviews, and single men should avoid ordering fruity cocktails on dates or in mixed company, because beverage choices signal character traits that are judged by others.
Premises
- Bringing an iced coffee to a job interview signals that the interview is just another errand on a to-do list rather than a priority.
- Time spent acquiring coffee before an interview could have been spent preparing for the interview instead.
- A single man ordering a fruity, sugary cocktail signals that he cannot handle discomfort, since strong alcohol requires tolerating some unpleasantness before enjoyment.
- Bourbon and beer (or simple one-mixer drinks) signal strength and simplicity, which are desirable traits in a man on a date.
- Fruity cocktails become acceptable once a man is in a committed relationship because he no longer needs to prove his strength or impress anyone.
- Context matters: fruity cocktails are appropriate at theme events explicitly designed for them (e.g., margarita parties, tiki bars) where drinking whiskey would seem out of place.
Assumptions
- Employers and dates actually perceive and judge beverage choices in the way the author claims.
- Signaling toughness or preparedness through drink choice is a legitimate/important marker of character or competence.
- There is a meaningful, universal connection between drink preference and traits like laziness, weakness, or strength.
- Traditional gender norms (e.g., 'wine is for women,' men should project toughness) are valid standards for social judgment.
- The author's personal preferences and intuitions about drinks reflect broader social consensus or truth, not just his own taste.
- First impressions based on superficial signals (like drink choice) are reliable indicators of deeper qualities like preparation or resilience.