M*A*S*H and Mocktails: A Deep Dive into On-Screen Drinking (and the Art of Faking It)
If you have seen an episode of M*A*S*H, you’ve witnessed a lot of on-screen drinking. Alcohol was not just a plot device; it was practically a character. Booze was a fixture, just like Radar’s teddy bear. Unlike other shows, M*A*S*H blended alcohol into daily life.
From Hawkeye’s favorite martinis to the homemade still, alcohol reflected the chaos and humor of life during the Korean War. It was everywhere. A backdrop and a central element of the 4077th. While the show depicted drinking, did the cast really sip drinks between takes? Or was it all pretend?
Let’s get to the point: most of the time, actors drink fake drinks on set. They do not drink real whiskey to get into character. Imagine the mess if actors had to be tipsy for every alcohol scene! They would not film; they would party. Safety is crucial on film sets, including what actors drink. The drinks seen are usually crafted prop beverages.
Why take all this trouble? Safety is the main reason. Filming requires long hours and multiple takes. Real alcohol could impair actors’ judgment and make it harder to focus. Think about the number of takes needed for a scene. If an actor took a shot each time, by take three, they could barely stand.
Another reason is performance consistency. Alcohol affects everyone differently. It varies even in the same person, affecting their mood and focus. If an actor were really drinking, keeping a consistent level of ‘drunkenness’ would be impossible. One take might be tipsy, and the next might be too drunk. Prop drinks keep performances consistent across takes.
So, what are these magical drinks? Prop drinks are diverse and clever. For beer scenes, non-alcoholic beer works well. It looks like beer, foams like beer, and allows actors to chug without hangovers. Sometimes, colored water or weak tea is used for less scrutinized scenes. For frothy beer heads, powdered egg white and lemon juice create the illusion.
For whiskey, iced tea serves as a great substitute. With burnt sugar or caramel coloring, iced tea mimics the amber color of spirits. It photographs well, too, so actors can sip ‘whiskey’ without real whiskey. Next time you see a character drinking ‘whiskey’, it might just be iced tea.
Mixed drinks can use many different liquids. Ginger ale mixed with juice can appear as various cocktails, from rum and cokes to exotic mixes. Diluted sports drinks can be adjusted for color and texture to resemble mixed drinks. Juices like cranberry or pomegranate help mimic alcoholic drinks based on visual similarity.
Now, back to M*A*S*H and our favorite characters’ drinks. Hawkeye Pierce loved dry martinis. He described his ideal martini as “a drink that is dying of thirst,” basically straight gin with a whisper of vermouth. For Hawkeye, the martini was a coping tool and a social lubricant in a chaotic war zone.
B.J. Hunnicutt also enjoyed martinis and beer, especially from their homemade still. He often joined Hawkeye in evening rituals of martini-fueled talks. Together, they reflected shared experiences and wartime stress. It’s likely Mike Farrell enjoyed iced tea martinis on set, keeping his focus as he portrayed a frequently intoxicated character.
In contrast, Major Charles Emerson Winchester III had a refined palate. He preferred wine or cognac. He was a social drinker, not quite as drunk as Hawkeye and B.J. His choices reflected sophistication but also a way to find normalcy in absurdity. While David Ogden Stiers portrayed Winchester’s indulgence well, it’s unlikely he drank vintage cognac between takes.
Then there’s “Star Beer,” the fictional brand at the 4077th. Its gold cans were common in the Swamp and officers’ club. This fictional beer hinted at a mass-produced beverage typical in a military setting. In reality, any beer on set was probably non-alcoholic to keep actors clear-headed during long poker games.
The homemade still was a source of amusement at the 4077th. Hawkeye and B.J.’s still symbolized their cleverness and defiance of regulations. However, it wasn’t very efficient distillation. The condenser coils were too short, wasting much vapor. The still added charm but less functionality. But hey, it was TV magic. It gave us many laughs.
see the M*A*S*H TV Show Still at the Smithsonian Museum. It is far cooler than a functional but boring still, right?
Alcohol was not the only drink at the 4077th. Corporal Walter “Radar” O’Reilly, the clerk with a knack for sensing helicopters, drank Grape Nehi soda. Radar’s love for Grape Nehi shows popular culture of the time. This soda contrasts with the hard-drinking surgeons. It highlights Radar’s innocence and youth. While Hawkeye and B.J. sipped martinis, Radar enjoyed grape soda. This choice reflects his grounded perspective.
Actors typically avoid real alcohol on set for professionalism. But what about their habits off-screen? The range is vast. Some, like Aamir Khan, are teetotalers. Khan maintains a healthy lifestyle, abstaining from alcohol. He is dedicated to his craft. His choice mirrors a trend among actors prioritizing health in a tough industry.
Others have complex relationships with alcohol but choose sobriety. Brad Pitt has been sober since 2017. His path to sobriety displays personal growth. He shows that in Hollywood, one can face challenges and put health first. Pitt’s honesty destigmatizes addiction and encourages others to seek help.
Then there are tales from another time. A famous example is Fred Astaire’s “drunken dance” in the 1942 film
On-screen substances extend beyond alcohol. Take cigarettes. Many classic films show characters smoking. Actors typically use prop cigarettes. These are often herbal and nicotine-free. They look like real cigarettes without harmful effects. Prop cigarettes help create the desired aesthetic – the smoke, the gestures – while avoiding nicotine addiction.
What about blood? Gore and violence appear on screen, especially in horror and war genres. Fake blood is a set staple. The M*A*S*H crew had sticky moments with fake blood. They tried making their own but were unsuccessful. In the end, they used Karo syrup, a household ingredient. Alan Alda wrote in his memoir,
Lastly, let’s discuss food practices on set. Do actors really eat all that food on screen? Usually, the answer is no. Actors often pretend to eat in multi-take scenes. Imagine eating a whole plate of spaghetti Bolognese for ten takes. By take three, you’d be tired of it; by take ten, you might hate it. To avoid this, actors take small bites and move food around their plates, miming eating instead of actually consuming large amounts. They may discreetly use a “spit bucket” off-camera.
Cups of coffee seen on screen often contain little to no liquid. This aids continuity—an empty cup is easier to manage. Constantly refilling would be a nightmare logistically. The empty coffee cup is now a film trope, revealing behind-the-scenes realities. Next time, see if an actor sips real coffee or just air.
The next time you watch M*A*S*H, or any show, notice characters enjoying drinks, smokes, or meals. Know that what you see is often a careful illusion. The art of on-screen consumption weaves between believability and practicality. While Hawkeye and B.J. seemed drunk often, Alan Alda and Mike Farrell likely sipped iced tea, sober and ready for action. The secrets of on-set beverages are like a prop beer shaken too hard. Explore behind-the-scenes secrets at What Do Actors Drink on Set? Behind-the-Scenes Secrets Revealed. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll get myself a… iced tea.
