Could be many reasons for cheap drinks.
I will let you assume the worst as you do .. that may be the case.
In the absence of your ability to think of more neutral innocent reasons, here are a few below.
Knew the folk serving behind the bar?
Canberra raiders were playing that night so the dock had a deal going?
Cheap drinks all night? Was Higgins drink expenditure checked and compared?
He was looked after as a known senior Lib staffer?
Buy two get the third free?
Extended happy hour?
Used a cash card he was gifted for Christmas and forgotten about it.
