Why, I wonder, do so many people put such a small amount of booze in the glass? A lot of them do, even heavy drinkers (alchohollics).
If it were brandy in a snifter or a good scotch or something similar I’d understand that they were, well. sniffing. But this isn’t the case. I’m talking about light and heavy real drinkers who pour a little whiskey in a large glass then toss it down. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
Afraid of wasteful spills? Pacing? Affectation?
Peace,
mangeorge
All I can say is “Damn Straight!” This has always bugged me, too. And it almost never fails, unless it’s shot glasses that are filled to overflowing.
And does it piss you off to the point of screaming when in a movie or TV show, somebody will order a drink or something to eat and either not touch it or have a sip or a bite and then get up and leave? Think of the starving and thirsty children in Africa.
And do you ever walk into somebody’s house and before you can even get seated do they offer you a drink? That’s the way it is in movies. Even frontier hovels. “Would you like something to drink?”
Cliche City
I think I do this…I have restaurant-style whiskey glasses. It’s similar to this:
http://www.cocktaildb.com/barwr_detail?id=68
I fill it halfway with scotch. I like to swirl it around so I can smell it. I can’t do that if it’s full. Also, if I fill it all the way, I’ll spill it when I walk to wherever I’m drinking. And a full glass is a lot of whiskey. I might only have one or two shots a night, and I like the act of pouring.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone pour a small amount into a large glass. Maybe a lot of people don’t have whiskey glasses? Most people have tumblers or rocks glasses. Crikey, I wouldn’t want to fill one of those up! It would be the last thing I remember.
I’ve watched a lot of drinkers do this. In a regular sized glass similar to this for example (thanks for the link, btw ;)).
Two examples would be saying “leave the bottle” in a bar or sitting at home with the bottle and the glass right next to each other and within easy reach.
I too used to sip good scotch, but this is different.
I used to drink quite a lot. Got tired of the payback and quit. I found pot to be much more to my liking, but my job curtailed any enjoyment of that, 
Bartender, I’d like to order the Big Gulp[sup]TM[/sup] martini…
I used to like (gin) martinis too.
I hear they’re coming back into favor.
I do not do this, but then, I have mixed drinks, usually. I like to pour a *good *shot of either rye or vodka.
I do this all the time, or at least in the infrequent times I have guests over. But then, I aspire to be the Humphrey Bogart gumshoe in a 'Fifties noir film; I already have the sardonic attitude, deep suspicion of authority figures, and partially paralyzed upper lip, so now all I need is a four-martini-per-night drinking habit and a curvy dame with a voice like foghorn and I’m all set.
Dude, don’t wait on the trend, lead it. Besides, no self-respecting guy should drink any cocktail wtih more than three ingredients, and only then something traditional and cool-sounding like a Manhattan or a perfect Rob Roy. Of course, if you want to be a real stud and make all the girls drop their panties, you’ll order “[preferred brand of whiskey/whisky], neat. No, thank you…I don’t need a chaser.” Take it from me. 
Stranger
Suppose you’re really hungry and order a whole pizza. For some reason it’s already cooled down by the time it gets to you, but you don’t mind because the driver gave you a good discount. Do you put the whole pizza on your plate, or just a piece or two at a time and repeat? (I know some people may say they just eat it out of the box, but assume you wanted to use a plate.) It’s a bit like that with alcohol. Also, it tastes different. Somehow the quantity in the glass changes the way it’s consumed. I tend to take larger sips of fuller glasses. Think about having a couple of small truffles as opposed to a large unremarkable chocolate bar. My impulse would certainly be to savour one and gorge on the other.
Well if the drink is chilled or whatever if you poured a large glass of it the drink would probably be tepid by the time you finished it. So if you drink a little at a time it will be at a pleasant temperature.
Not only do I use a plate, I use a fork. Partly because it’s easier to eat hot with a fork, and partly because it tastes better.
IMO;
Leftover pizza sucks.
Cold pizza sucks.
A burnt lip sucks.
Pulling half the topping off the unbitten slice sucks.
Call me picky.
Back to the booze;
I was thinking ceremony. Picture Jack Lemmon in “Days of Wine and Roses”. A bottle of whiskey sitting on the kitchen table. Joe (Jack) and Kirsten (Lee Remick) sitting at the table. Joe picks up the bottle, pours a scant shot into each of two glasses, screws the lid back on and sets the bottle back down. they clink then drink. Over and over. Bottle, cap, pour, cap bottle, drink. All except for the clink, which disappears when the serious imbibing starts.
This scene may have been paraphrased. 
Can I volunteer? I’ve got the clothes.
Yeah, yeah. But do you have the curves. Curvy dames are rare these days. Are you even a dame? I assumed. 