# Lateral Thinking Puzzles. Let's do it again! **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [October 23, 2019, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193 "2019-10-23T21:32:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 195
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2020, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3883 "2020-09-08T03:59:42Z")
Very good! ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3884 "2020-09-09T15:38:18Z")
Josh ordered a drink. 80 proof. The drink should have cost him $5. It cost him his rent deposit. How come? ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3885 "2020-09-09T18:57:55Z")
Did the rent deposit go to the bar or someone else? Did it cost him actual money or something else? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3886 "2020-09-09T19:17:07Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > Did the rent deposit go… Did the rent deposit go to the bar or someone else? **Yes** , it was a bar and the money went to the bar Did it cost him actual money or something else? **Actual money** It may not have been his entire rent deposit. But at least a big chunk of it. ---
**Author:** ![kk\_fusion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kk_fusion/32/15276_2.png) [@kk\_fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kk_fusion)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3887 "2020-09-09T19:19:40Z")
Was he actually served the drink? Did he consume it? Was it a drink that was on the regular bar menu? ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3888 "2020-09-09T19:37:30Z")
Was it the result of actually purchasing the drink, or something he did after drinking? Was the drink itself far more expensive than he realized? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3889 "2020-09-09T19:48:15Z")
> [@kk\_fusion](#): > > Was he actually… Was he actually served the drink? **Yes** Did he consume it? **Yes** Was it a drink that was on the regular bar menu? **Yes** > [@Zyada](#): > > Was it the result… Was it the result of actually purchasing the drink, or something he did after drinking? **No** to both Was the drink itself far more expensive than he realized? **No** ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3890 "2020-09-09T19:59:39Z")
Was his rent deposit actually around $5? Was the loss of his rent deposit accidental? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3891 "2020-09-09T20:30:06Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > Was his rent deposit… Was his rent deposit actually around $5? **No** Was the loss of his rent deposit accidental? **No** ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3892 "2020-09-09T20:35:15Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > It may not have been his entire rent deposit. But at least a big chunk of it. Was the money actually related, legally, to his rent deposit? Was his landlord related to the bar he was drinking in? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3893 "2020-09-09T20:37:42Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Was the money… Was the money actually related, legally, to his rent deposit? **Money** was from his returned rent deposit. Was his landlord related to the bar he was drinking in? **No** ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3894 "2020-09-09T21:22:16Z")
Is the fact that the drink was 80 proof relevant? Did Josh intentionally hand over the rent deposit money in exchange for the drink? Did he expect to get change? Is the currency involved relevant? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3895 "2020-09-09T21:29:12Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > Is the fact… Is the fact that the drink was 80 proof relevant? **Yes** , somewhat. Did Josh intentionally hand over the rent deposit money in exchange for the drink? **Yes** is more correct than No. Did he expect to get change? **No** Is the currency involved relevant? **Not really** , but it is Canadian dollars for what it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3896 "2020-09-09T21:55:17Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Is the fact that the drink was 80 proof relevant? **Yes** , somewhat. Apologies, I’m changing this one to just a **Yes** ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3897 "2020-09-10T10:17:57Z")
Was there a bet involved? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3898 "2020-09-10T13:48:43Z")
**Josh ordered a drink. 80 proof. The drink should have cost him $5. It cost him his rent deposit. How come?** > [@Aspidistra](#): > > Was there a bet involved?.. **No.** ---
**Author:** ![CardboardBoxx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardboardboxx/32/7079_2.png) [@CardboardBoxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CardboardBoxx)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3899 "2020-09-10T13:54:01Z")
When you say 80 proof do you mean 40% ABV? Could this happen with any “80 proof” drink? If not, does it need to be clear? opaque? made with a particular ingredient? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3900 "2020-09-10T14:03:05Z")
> [@CardboardBoxx](#): > > When you say 80 proof… When you say 80 proof do you mean 40% ABV? **Yes** Could this happen with any “80 proof” drink? **Yes** , 80 proof or above If not, does it need to be clear? opaque? made with a particular ingredient? **Yes** to made with a particular ingredient ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3901 "2020-09-10T14:03:24Z")
If someone sitting next to Josh ordered the same beverage, would that person have paid $5? If Josh ordered another serving, would it cost him $5, or the larger “rent deposit” amount? Did Josh pay in cash? ---
**Author:** ![CardboardBoxx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardboardboxx/32/7079_2.png) [@CardboardBoxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CardboardBoxx)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/3902 "2020-09-10T14:12:39Z")
OK seems to be a discrepancy: you say any 40% ABV drink will count, but also that it needs to be made with a particular ingredient. I think the only common ingredient in all spirits is water. Is water the ingredient you referred to? Would a bourbon and a vodka both work? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=194) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=196)