I used to get asked "if i worked for southwest" as I ordered a drink while handing the FA a drink coupon. Each time I was wearing a Southwest t-shirt or hat (freebie from new city launches etc). My thoughts at the time as I answered no each time was that there might be a policy AGAINST serving dead-heading employees etc. Maybe I missed the real reason they asked (professional courtesy).

Southwest's drink sales system is ripe for abuse. there seems to be no accountability of the crew to track drink sales/losses. The chance of direct theft of cash went down now that there is no cash onboard. FAs can give discretionary comps (Herb-style, which is GOOD) but don't even enter those into their handhelds. Some flights one FA comps all drinks while the other 2-3 FAs charge for them. On free first-drink holidays, most FAs charge for all drinks. Drink coupons are not scanned/swiped to prevent fraud or reuse, instead the FA's as supposed to tear them up... Suppose to.... I once saw an FAs hand drink coupons to a friend (a ground crew agent) who said "how many did you get for me this time (who maybe flies alot or sells them on ebay!)" Another time I saw an FA carefully pack 6 Vodkas in his personal carry on right as we landed.