Restaurant Bills - To Split or Not to Split

IvanOpinion

I always seem to be driving therefore drink nothing but coke and water (might have one Budweiser). The group we usually go out with take ALL drink off the bill and then we split the food (plus tip) - those that were drinking then split the drink. The other advantage is that my Bud and/or cokes are picked up by the drinkers - mainly because I am usually giving one or more of them a lift there and back.

Sometimes you win ... sometimes you lose. I do think it is very unfair though to expect non-drinkers to pick up the tab for those that have been downing bottle after bottle of wine ... followed by a couple of brandies .. and maybe a cuban or two.

Maybe I am different but I expect the drink to be split from the food bill - if for no other reason than service charge/tip is traditionally only payable on food (because the increased cost of wine already includes corkage etc.).

Ivan

PS: can anybody beat £15 corkage on a 'bring your own bottle' ... about three times the cost of the wine in the first place.

frizz_head

I totally agree with everyone else, its just an unwritten rule that the person driving/not drinking, has their drinks paid for by the group.

It was mean of the others to have not offered in the first place, thus placing yourself and girlfriend in an awkward situation.

I used to work with a guy who would work out what he had to the penny, and only pay exactly that. He would always say, I only had two poppadoms, one Chicken Korma, half a pilau rice and two shandys, so I make that £11.48 (or whatever it was).

njm_2

I am in total agreement – you certainly find out who your friends are. I’ve been teetotal for the last ten years and volunteer to be the driver for most social functions. The true friends won’t allow me to buy a drink all night, regardless of how much is charged for soft drinks, however there have been occasions when I have had to contribute to a bar bill and it is always the biggest drinkers who are keenest to divide it equally. Funny how I have to leave early sometimes when its raining!

Lucie_2

Eating out in groups is a total nightmare. The only way is to agree before hand what gets split & what doesn't.
I've found the best meals for groups are set menus, eat as much as you like buffets & chinese banquet type ones. That way everyone pays the same price, eats as much or as little as they like (no "oooo but I didn't have a starter" moaning) & knows the price in advance. Much easier. Then all you have to quibble about are the drinks!

webmasterpolo

Martin has mentioned somewhere, maybe the book or this site l can't remember, but a simple system that l've been using for years.

Each person puts in what they think they owe to the kitty. Usually it will be short, so you add the tip to this and then divide it by everyone.

Simple and effective.

eg.
Person A puts in £45
Person B puts in £60
Person C puts in 25

Total in £130.

Bill is £145 + tip of £15 = £160

£130 - £160 = £30

£30 / 3 people = £10

Each person then adds £10 to the kitty for the shortful and tip.

jen_jen_2

I always seem to be driving therefore drink nothing but coke and water (might have one Budweiser). The group we usually go out with take ALL drink off the bill and then we split the food (plus tip) - those that were drinking then split the drink. The other advantage is that my Bud and/or cokes are picked up by the drinkers - mainly because I am usually giving one or more of them a lift there and back.

SNAP this is the way i work too

Scarlet_Fever

i like nandos for going out - as you pay at the counter when you order, stops any arguments at all - i am campainging for one in Crawley *(where i work)

andy88_2

Some friends are notorious amongst other friends for being ultra-pedantic about the bill but forgetting a couple of things they had.

One particular person when in a group takes charge of figuring splitting the bill. He says how many of us are there, starts counting on his left and ends on his right, adds a bit on for the tip, and doesn't put any money in the kitty. I've seen him do it about 10 times over the years; haven't been out with him for about 6 years, but nearly everybody knows he rarely puts his hand in his pocket.

SnowyOwl_2

I had a birthday totally and utterly ruined once by going out with a big group... in the event I was off work ill that day, but thought that since about 20 people were going out to celebrate my birthday I should show my face. Got there and didn't eat anything, just had plain water. At the end of the night the bill was split equally...and guess what, yep you're right...I was counted in. What a happy bloody birthday that was...

Another ex-friend would take advantage of drunkenness when counting money...eg he'd say "How much did you give me Mary"..."eerrr £20"..."naw it must have been £10, I'm a tenner short.." then Mary would hand it over... Couldn't believe my eyes the first time I saw him do it...

Mancrob...you were completely within your rights to not pay for the alcohol that others consumed. The fact that your friends went ballistic at you is also a sign that they are not really your friends anyway. They might be OK for a night out every now and again, but get the money thing sorted before you order so much as a breakstick.

Freebie_Hunter_2

Awww poor Snowy. How incredibly mean of them all!! It was your birthday and they should have been treating you, not the other way round.

I do hope that you can get some recompense at some stage, the meanie toads!