Magic for a Tipsy Crowd

Back when I was working nights, I used to do a few things.

When I was behind the bar, if customers paid with bills, I'd often tell them their bill might be counterfeit... but not to worry, there was a way to check: "if it floats in the air, it's authentic." And sure enough, it floated. Then I'd take their payment, make change, and move on to the next customer.

I usually did this when it was busy, specifically to do the effect as quickly as possible and not give them a chance to react, since I had to serve the next customer.

Another bar trick I did often was the coin bite (a 50-cent piece for me). Same deal: if I was giving them change (or they paid me) and it involved a 50-cent coin, I'd do the routine.

Then there are lots of really cool effects, like with ropes, for example, or directly with your body. For instance, the effect of rotating your arm 360 degrees on itself 😁 – that one totally freaked people out. The only bummer is you can only do it in winter (due to the mandatory long sleeves to conceal the gimmick).

As for card magic, there are the classic color changes (though I prefer to do them right in the spectator's hand) and transpositions, lots of selected card transpositions to, LITERALLY ANYWHERE. For example, I once made a card travel to an unopened beer in the fridge.

There are really so many things you can do, and I'm telling you, nighttime is perfect for practicing and polishing any moves you might have. Plus, people don't really care as much if something goes a little off (in fact, many won't even remember the next day 🤣 🤣).

My recommendation is to capitalize on doing tricks with everyday items, simple stuff, as some might suggest, like any Double Lift where the card reappears on top, or the effect of changing a card they just saw after you place it on the table.
A color change effect, the classic coin vanish and reappearance, and even a card vanish using a palm, since with their perceptions dulled, it's easier to be a bit more daring, haha...
The classic jumping and linking safety pins effect, after you challenge them to make two pins link in mid-air.
Or the classic breaking a toothpick inside a napkin and making it reappear. (You'd hide the broken toothpick in the napkin's seam... That one's great!!! All you need is a standard kitchen napkin with a seam you can secretly slide the toothpick into from the side; if you're already at a restaurant, you're golden.)
Any mentalism or prediction effect always plays well.
Or effects like Flite...
That's a prime moment to capitalize on their attention spans, which are even more diminished by alcohol.
Hehehe...

I'd stick to easy stuff like color changes, palming a card, and packet tricks, or an ambitious routine. That's what I do at late-night gatherings and what I used to do in college when some drunk friend asked for a trick (and 30 years ago, people really tied one on).

Beyond that, if they're pretty wasted, the rest of your repertoire won't do you any good.

Mostly visual stuff that doesn't require much thinking.

Let's see what everyone else has to say.