I drink if it's free, like alot of you other guys. I'm definitely not into giving half my pay back to the bar. I do however, tip generously, even for the free stuff. There is no reason the bartender shouldn't get his/hers. As far as effect on my playing, it get's a little looser, in a good way. I'll be the first one to say, if I have too much, I suck bigtime!
But a few over the course of the night definitely has a positive effect on my soloing.
Jake