Are People In Los Angeles That Stupid?

It’s the barfly’s version of the $60 barrel of oil:

According to “Zagat New York City Nightlife 2007/08,” the average drink now costs $10.12, up 7 percent from last year.

Only Los Angeles and Las Vegas (minus the free drinks in the casinos) cost more at $10.66 and $11.86, respectively.

“People have more money in their pockets these days,” said Mario Stewart of Mantra 986, a Midtown lounge that opened in January.

“People might actually get suspicious — like they walked into a dive bar — if you charge too little.”

As a possible result of the costlier hooch, there are fewer clubgoers waiting behind velvet ropes to get into Gotham’s nightspots.

About 36 percent of those surveyed by Zagat said they are going out less often.