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a. I had vodka in my soda.

b. I drank vodka in my soda.

Are these grammatically correct?

I think (a) is and (b) is not.

(a) would just mean there was vodka in my soda. I might not even have drunk it. Maybe someone served me a glass of soda with vodka in it and I noticed by the smell that there was vodka there and didn't drink it because I had to drive.

Many thanks

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    Do you mean grammatically correct or meaningful? Both sentences are grammatically correct, but the meaning of sentence b is not clear. If it's supposed to mean "I drank a mixed drink with vodka and soda", it doesn't mean that.
    – gotube ♦
    Aug 31 at 0:34
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    Your question mentions grammar (syntax), but the description of your reasoning is entirely about pragmatics. That’s like asking if “I’m on a sunny beach in Hawaii” is grammatical and suggesting that it’s not because in fact I am on the Siberian tundra in January.
    – Paul Tanenbaum
    Aug 31 at 3:43
  • Thank you both very much. Yes. I meant correct and meaningful. Sorry about that. I think (b) is grammatical, but not a sentence that expresses the meaning it's supposed to.
    – azz
    Aug 31 at 5:03
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    To 'have' a drink normally implies drinking it. In the scenario you describe, you would say something like "I could tell that there was vodka in my soda, so I didn't drink it."
    – Kate Bunting
    Aug 31 at 9:13

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