A good first date varies from person to person. For many of us, a quality date consists of getting to know one another and establishing an emotional connection over dinner and drinks. This allows the two people involved in the dinner and drinks time together to find out what they have in common and if there is chemistry between them which could turn into something more serious.
A drink on the first date is not necessarily a deal breaker but it's important for you both to get an understanding that each other has expectations about how this potential courtship will proceed (and what your intentions are). To some people, drinking together on a first date can seem like "wasting" alcohol rather than enjoying it because they see their duty as getting drunk...