Bars, Clubs and Nightlife Forum

Most bars only charge for the alcohol used in the drink, and not for the mixer/s.
A rum and coke is usually the same price as a shot of rum, the coke is free.
Different alcohols have different prices. Lets take a white Russian for example, a shot of vodka, a shot of Kahlua, and sometimes a shot of cream.
Lets say vodka is $2/shot, Kahlua is $3 a shot, and cream (mixer is free).
The finished drink will usually cost $5, unless you choose a top shelf vodka, which will raise the price up by however much more the good vodka costs.

Depends on the clientele, I guess.
If you were at a college bar near a more "up scale" university, you might find that the bottom-top shelf dynamic is shifted higher.