You’re finally turning 21. Gone are the days of relying on your older friends to buy you beer. It’s finally up to you to navigate the bar scene by yourself, hopefully without looking like a newbie or making too many mistakes along the way.

DOORMAN DO’S AND DON’TS

Over time, you’ll come to realize that it pays to be friendly with the doorman. Any time they give you trouble, it’s probably because he or she is just plain bored. I mean, just think of what their job entails: soberly sitting for hours, sometimes in the cold, ushering in young, drunken crazies until the wee hours of the morning. Not the most fun job, if you ask me. Instead of acting stiff and defensive with the bouncer, be nice, ask how they’re doing. Maybe next time, they’ll remember you and let you in free of charge.

WHATCHA DRINKIN’?

Choosing your first legal drink can be a real headache if you aren’t quite sure about your preferences. While ordering, you’ll be faced with a number of questions: “Draft or bottle?” “Type of liquor?” “Open tab, closed tab?” And, if you aren’t ready, things can get complicated fast.

The moral of the story is to at least talk to your friends before approaching the bar instead of assuming you’ll pick your favorite drink on the first try. Chances are, discovering your drink of choice will actually take a while and a lot of taste testing.

 HEY BIG SPENDER!