Drinking is an activity in GTA IV that can be done with friends or girlfriends. This activity can't be done when the player is by himself, but it can be done with any of Niko's friends and girlfriends. The cost of drinking in a bar is between $50-$100, depending on which bar it is. When visiting a bar with friends and girlfriends, a cutscene will show them going in the bar. Afterwards, both of them will appear outside the bar, drunk. When drunk, there is some conversation between the charactes, who will sometimes reveal other aspects of their personality. Frequently, the conversation may become an argument and Niko will tell the other person to be quiet. While drunk, Niko will stumble and sometimes fall to the ground, the same as the person who is with him. He will also be unable to walk in a straight line, run, jump, draw a weapon or fight. Vision will also become blurry and the camera will move irregularly. The intoxication wears off after a while, and if another activity is done after drinking or after dropping off the other person at their house, Niko will become sober again.
If the player gets into a vehicle while drunk, Niko will remark that doing so is not a good idea (only Niko Bellic will say this, because when Johnny Klebitz gets on his bike, a short cutscene will show his friends saying they had a good time and driving off and then Johnny's intoxication will wear off soon). If Niko is driving while intoxicated and the police see him he will get a one star wanted level. Driving while drunk also becomes difficult because Niko will not be able to see clearly and control the vehicle properly. The bars you can visit are Comrades Bar, Jerkov's Bar, Lucky Winkles, Steinway Beer Garden and Club Liberty.