If he's drinking with his mates, he would be unlikely to welcome approaches from outside the group, unless sycophantic and ego-enhancing.

如果他跟同伴一起，他一般不欢迎陌生人的接近，不过如果你会拍马屁的话那就另当别论。

youdao

He (or she) would be pro-active, approachable, knowledgeable and good company for journalists, without being sycophantic to them.

ECONOMIST: European politics