The bartender calls out customers who ask for light ice, and shows what you’re really getting

Photo by@girlypopzonly/TikTok Maksym Fesenko/ShutterStock Maksym Fesenko/ShutterStock

Despite popular disbelief, ordering a drink at a bar with light ice doesn’t mean more alcohol. This bartender explains why.

Purchasing a beverage, whether it's from a coffee place or a pub, with minimal ice ensures the drink will contain less of it than what's typically used. However, as per the advice from a TikTok user and a bartender known as @girlypopzonly, this doesn't necessarily mean there will be more liquid in your glass.

She said this is because drinks are made the same way regardless of how much ice they have in it.

What you’re getting when you ask for light ice

They go on to clarify with the instance of a margarita. A margarita typically consists of 1 ounce of lime juice, 1 1/2 ounces of liqueur, and 2 ounces of tequila.

When they transfer this mixture into a typical margarita glass, there's a bit of room left at the top. Yet, when @girlypopzonly adds ice to that glass, it reaches its brim.

“So if you say, ‘Can I get a margarita, no ice?’ That does not mean, lets say this is alcohol,” @girlypopzonly says. She grabs the bottle of water they used to symbolize alcohol and continuously pours it into the glass until its at the brim. This video has 645 likes and 15,000 views.

So, is asking for light ice a good idea?

It's worth mentioning that some people request less ice not because they desire a more diluted beverage, but rather to prevent their drink from becoming watered down and to avoid taking advantage of the bartender for additional alcohol. Nonetheless, certain professionals argue that an increased amount of ice could be beneficial for several reasons.

According to the general manager of Weiss Distillery, “Depending on what you’re drinking, it just opens everything up to be able to taste the drink better. Mellows things out. Cuts down tartness/sweetness,” as reported by an Inside Hook article.

Furthermore, this piece highlights that beverages are specifically designed to be served in glasses that optimize temperature control and that using less ice means it dissolves more quickly in the drink. Consequently, a drink with less ice may become diluted more rapidly than one with more.

What are viewers saying?

Viewers, bartenders and bar attenders, have a range of thoughts on the debated topic.

“Less ice = the less my drink gets watered down as I forget & remember it a few times,” mentions comment.

“Yesssss. As a server it drives me crazy when people get mad because their drink isn’t ‘full,’” mentions another comment.

“I always told people do you want less ice or pay for a double?” recalls a different comment.

“Starbucks and fast food take out definitely more liquid if I ask for no ice,” shares another comment.

It appears that there's a lack of consensus regarding the effect of reduced ice in your beverage. A few individuals believe that certain establishments may serve larger volumes of liquid, whereas bartenders argue that this is not the norm. Some individuals believe that less ice results in a drink that's less diluted, whereas others argue that the opposite, more ice, leads to a slower dilution process.

Nonetheless, @girlpopzonly wants to emphasize that the amount of alcohol in your drink is not affected by the quantity of ice you request, so aiming for less ice won't achieve your desired outcome.

“This is for the people who expect a double shot when they get no ice,” @girlypopzonly responds to one comment on the video.