At the beginning of Chapter 20, Dolphus Raymond reveals his secret to Scout and Dill by giving Dill a sip from his paper sack. The children are surprised to learn that Dolphus actually drinks Coca-Cola. When Scout asks why Dolphus pretends to be an alcoholic, he explains to Scout that his actions help people latch onto a reason as to why he lives the way he does. Unlike the other white citizens of Maycomb, Dolphus openly associates with black people and even has several mixed children. His taboo behavior makes him an outcast in the prejudiced community. Dolphus admits that he's not being honest with people, but explains to Scout that his actions allow him to live the way he wants. Dolphus also tells Scout that she is too young to truly understand the community of Maycomb. Dolphus Raymond feigns alcoholism to avoid possible trouble with racist community members. Instead of seeing Dolphus as their enemy, they dismiss his behavior because they believe he is an alcoholic.

Mr. Raymond reveals that he is not really a drunk--he intentionally appears to be drunk so that people will leave him alone.  As a white man who has a relationship and children with a black woman, Dolphus Raymond knows that he and his family would face unrelenting persecution if he simply defied Maycomb's "social" standards.  Therefore, in order to live his life how he wants to live it, he pretends to be drunk.  The residents of Maycomb fall for his sham by seeing him as the eccentric town drunk.

Dolphus Raymond is another one of Lee's logical, objective characters--one who does not fall prey to Maycomb's tradition of racism and prejudice.  Besides Atticus, Heck Tate, Miss Maudie, and Link Deas are similar characters who are able to look past skin color to see someone's real character.

After Jem takes Dill outside because the sensitive boy cries in reaction to the insinuating questioning of Tom Robinson by Mr. Gilmer as well as his demeaning attitude, Dill tells Jem and Scout that he hated 

The way that man called him ‘boy’ all the time an‘ sneered at him, an’ looked around at the jury every time he answered—”

Shortly, they hear a voice emanating from behind a tree-trunk, belonging to Mr. Dolphus Raymond.

“I know what you mean, boy....You aren’t thin-hided, it just makes you sick, doesn’t it?”

Mr. Raymond walks around and offers Dill a sip through a straw of his drink covered by a paper bag. As Dill sips the drink, Scout is horrified, thinking the man is corrupting a youth; however, Dill laughs and tells her the drink is nothing more than a Coca-Cola. Mr. Raymond chuckles and asks the children not to reveal his secret; puzzled, Scout asks him why he pretends to be drinking whiskey.

“Some folks don’t—like the way I live. Now I could say the hell with ‘em, I don’t care if they don’t like it. I do say I don’t care if they don’t like it, right enough— but I don’t say the hell with ’em, see?”

Instead, explains Mr. Raymond, he gives the townspeople a reason for his choice of living with a black woman: "Oh, he drinks, you know" they can say--a reason that aligns more with their reasoning than to say that he prefers to live "among the colored" when he has had social standing and money. In this way, the residents of Maycomb can say, "He can’t help himself, that’s why he lives the way he does.” Mr. Raymond explains to Scout that the people of Macomb could not understand that he truly chooses to live where he does.