Buying a drink is illogical? Who is asking them on a date? You are. I'm not saying to pay for all the drinks...usually if they have any interest in you they will offer to get the second round.
Buying the first drink for a woman YOU asked out has nothing to do with being alpha or beta or any other nonsense. It has to do with social acuity and tact. Somthing the young generation sorely lacks these days.
If you cant afford to buy the first drink you shouldn't be worried about dating you should be worried about your finances.
A lot of women nowadays agree for a date only so they can get a free drink and there are plenty guys out there on Online Dating that will buy them a drink everyday everytime if she agrees for a "date" with them.
Usually you don't know if your first date is a sl*t or if she's a good, calm book-orientated woman.
She could as well date 4 other guys the same day or week and they all offered to buy her a drink.
Whats the point in being one of them and wasting money with nothing in return?
I think its a woman who has no tact if she doesnt offer to pay. You don't owe her anything. She didn't have to agree to meet you.
To save money I usually offer a walk but they sometimes have the nerve to ask if we go for a drink (but they don't offer paying for their drink). And I prefer drinking than walking too, but as I said, if you date a lot, then that's huge money waste.
And yes, I invite them for a date, but I never call it date, I'm just saying we can meet.