You’re on a first date. Your palms may be a little sweatier than usual. The drink menu is spread out in front of you. You’re simultaneously trying to take stock of your date, while also perusing the bar’s offerings. It’s a big decision – after all, what you order says a lot about your personality and these things matter (…or do they?)

Are you better off ordering a glass of wine or will your date judge you if you follow your heart and order that quadruple-shot piña colada that’s been on your mind all day?

(The answers are yes, yes and most definitely, yes.)

Although it’s easy to write off your first date drink choice as inconsequential, according to a recent study by WineBags, what you decide to order actually does matter when it comes to dating.

The study surveyed over 1,000 Americans about their preferred drink orders and how they were perceived by others in different age groups and of the opposite sex. According to the survey results, the most attractive first date drink orders are as follows:

1. Wine
2. Craft beer
3. Water or a non-alcoholic beverage
4. Mixed drink
5. Top shelf liquor
6. Well liquor
7. “Other” (I think this is where that four-shot piña colada served in a fishbowl fits in.)

So, what does this all mean?

First of all, if you’re looking for an easy way to impress your date, or just want to play it safe, you might want to order a glass of wine or craft beer.

It makes sense that these two beverage categories came out on top. We typically associate the enjoyment of wine and craft beer with a certain level of sophistication. There are so many different kinds that you kind of need to have some basic knowledge of the beverage and what you enjoy. You need to care about what you’re drinking. It other words, these drink choices suggest that you’re a grownup with grownup tastes – both desirable attributes in a partner.

Although there are some people who are uber pretentious about their wine and beer, in general a glass of rose or your favorite Pilsner is still a way more laid back, low-key (not to mention, affordable) beverage choice than demanding the bartender serve you the Glenfiddich 1937.

Hate wine and beer? No problem. You can always stick to water or a non-alcoholic beverage – especially if you don’t feel like you know the other person very well. It won’t hurt your dating chances. Most survey participants saw not drinking alcohol on a date as a positive thing (with nearly 21 percent giving somewhat positive responses and 34 percent giving extremely positive responses). Choosing to stick to non-alcoholic beverages shows you’re responsible and clearheaded.

Plus, how your date reacts to you not drinking can be the perfect litmus test for whether they’re a good match. If someone gets weird about your lack of drinking or encourages you to drink more than your limit, that’s a major red flag (or at the very least a sign that you’re not on the same page, lifestyle or value wise). In fact, 60 percent of respondents said they saw this kind of behavior in a negative light.

Then of course, there are mixed drinks. This is where things can get a bit dicey. Not all mixed drinks are created equal. There’s a huge difference between ordering an Old Fashioned, a Pisco Sour or a Mojito and ordering a double Long Island Ice Tea or asking the bartender to serve you a big ole’ tumbler of vodka and milk (shudder). The rule of thumb here: keep it classy. If you can’t imagine a character on Mad Men (male or female) drinking it, don’t order it. And whatever you do – don’t order shots. Remember, this is a first date, not Spring Break 2010 at Señor Frog’s.

Lastly, if you want to avoid turning off your date, you might want to steer clear of the well-liquor because there’s nothing less sexy than hearing someone say, “Give me the cheapest stuff ya’ got and top it off with a healthy splash of diet Sprite!” Also steer clear of the dreaded “other” category. I’m not sure exactly what’s covered under this heading, but I imagine a lot of neon-hued fish bowl cocktails, drinks with names like Sex on the Beach or A Slow Screw Against the Wall and anything involving whipped cream. Would Don Draper ever be caught dead ordering a drink called a Screaming Orgasm?

No. And neither should you.