Is there a smart way to drink? Clearly, the first answer is "in moderation" and "with someone else behind the wheel." But when it comes to the etiquette and the economy of drinking, is there a way to come out on top?

While I'm not exactly I barfly, I do know my way around a pint of Guinness or a gin and tonic. I've dated bartenders (a tricky proposition for someone in the 8-to-5 workplace) and now have one in my family (my sister-in-law has poured drinks for almost four years). There are things I learned being around this environment ... 50% of the time, for example, someone will order a Bud Light - good news for Anheuser-Busch (NYSE: BUD), but maybe that's because I live in St. Louis. The most annoying customers (aside from bachelorette parties) are those who approach the bar without a clear idea of what they are ordering. And be ready to show you're willing to tip from the very first drink, or you could be subject to shoddy service.

There are apparently some secrets that my former friend and my sister-in-law have kept to themselves, however, but SmartMoney brought them to the surface this week - things your bartender doesn't want you to know...