Here's what to say when a police officer asks you, "How long were you at the bar?" You should never be answering these questions. If a police officer can get you to answer these questions, he can really develop a very good case against you for a DUI. So, it's important for you to realize you don't have to answer these questions. And you see how tricky that question is. How long were you at the bar? He doesn't really want to know how long you were at the bar. He wants to know how long you've been drinking. He wants to know when you had your first drink and when you had your last drink. He's just easing you into the water. Kind of like boiling a frog. Don't be the frog.