to think bars water down their spirits?

[paddleduck]

I don't drink often, but when I do I like to have southern comfort / malibu and coke (if not sharing wine ofc)

Went away recently and had two singles with coke. Felt absoloutely fine, like I'd had nothing at all to drink.

Just poured myself (measuring it properly!) And I'm sat here feeling positively fuzzy and warm.

I'm thinking bars must 'stretch' their spirits for profit? Or aibu?

Definitely not drinking to get drunk. . Never do!

I'd say no too.

I do find that bars can put a lot of ice in drinks which makes them seem more watery. I also find that sometimes I am much more effected by alcohol than at other times.

I doubt it. They risk the Weights and Measures folk doing spot checks. My friend nearly got done for accidentally underpouring by a ml.

It also depends how much mixer you add. My homemade G&T tends to be weaker tasting than pub ones because although I use a generous slug of gin, I fill a coke sized glass to the top with tonic so in terms of volume it is three times the size of a pub drink with less alcohol overall.

But often coke comes from a pump and is mixed at the servers discretion so you can get a wee slug of coke or a whole glassful. You could be getting a glassful when you are out but only giving yourself "half and half" at home.

Coke/lemonade etc from the pump is basically syrup with carbonated water, so it will make spirits taste watered down. Also, if you ask for 'vodka and coke' they will give you the house vodka which is likely to have a weaker ABV. They don't water the spirits down though, as people have said trading standards to spot checks. If ice is added, this will water it down, also the amount of mixer will make it taste weaker if you add more.

A pub shot is 25ml, shot glasses you buy are usually 35-50ml.

Plus the post mix will be more watery than bottled mixer. Plus ice cubes etc..

Doubt it - I was in a restaurant one evening and a bloke with a huge briefcase came in and tested the spirits in the optics on the spot. He also took samples away with him for additional tests. Has to be what it says on the bottle.

I always find alcohol affects me differently at home, I'm much more aware of the effects.

I worked in a really dodgy local bar about 20 years ago that used to water its spirits, but the owner was a real piece of work. I don't think it's at all prevalent these days thankfully, but as others have said, there are plenty of tricks bars use to make maximum profit whilst staying within the law.