large booking at restaurant- how to split the bill?

missbiggles1

mumps wrote: »

I am surprised, when we go out I know I drink very little but I don't think any of the soft drink drinkers will drink as much as the alcohol drinkers. At our local pub chain where we sometimes meet friends for lunch you get free refills for the soft drinks so it isn't an issue. Thinking about it the alcohol drinkers don't tend to drink so much at lunchtime either. It is a bit of a minefield.

I think I'd burst if I drank 2 pints never mind 8.

I don't drink alcohol during Lent so I normally have a litre bottle of a decent sparkling water with my meal - it isn't hard to drink that much in 2/3 hours when eating. (And I'm not one of those people who wander round sipping from a bottle water all the time.):)

bugslet

FredG wrote: »

I am a greedy git and will usually do 3 courses and a bucket of alcohol but I'll always put in extra to cover off my indulgence and a proportionate tip, mainly because I'm not a tight git.

I am your twin:D. This really is a bizarre thread!

holidaysforme

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Yes, so would I, but my companion might not chose to discuss their finances.

If they are happy to only have one course that is fine. It's the people like me who WOULDN'T be happy if they couldn't have what they wanted that I am talking about. There is no way that I personally would ever go for a meal if I could only afford one course (even though I might only chose to have the one course when I got there). It's a matter of being able to have a second course if you want it.

You've hit the nail on the head here. I would not go for a meal if I could only afford one course. I might choose to only have one course,( though usually have 2-3) but not being able to make that choice would make the whole thing a little joyless for me.
I would quite honestly prefer yo stay at home.

holidaysforme

I am going out tonight with DH. We bought a groupon voucher for a bistro type restaurant. It's for three courses, a cocktail and wine.

I think some of you on here would be suggesting I go to AA and Overeaters anon , judging how little some if you eat and drink when you go out for a meal lol:rotfl:

holidaysforme

FredG wrote: »

I am a greedy git and will usually do 3 courses and a bucket of alcohol but I'll always put in extra to cover off my indulgence and a proportionate tip, mainly because I'm not a tight git.

Same here. Always pay my way, make sure that any non drinkers don't subsidise those who are the drinking, and always leave a tip.

AubreyMac

It varies depending on who I'm dining with.


some friends only want to pay for what they ate, others are happy to pay 50/50 regardless of who ate more.


I have a friend who used to run a dining group on meetup, with the aim of dining in Michelin star restaurants or well recommended ones. Most people there only wants to pay what they ate which is fair enough as they are mainly strangers but she found that this never totalled up to the bill in the end. It's worse when people pay and leave at different times as it means those staying later end up paying for the shortfall. In the end she decided that the bill is divided equally and if people did not like this then don't come (she did forewarn them).


My workplace has a policy of bill being divided equally (minus the leaving person or whoever we are celebrating) to avoid arguments. This is fair enough but the first time I went I did not know this so I resentfully ended up paying some £10 more than my own meal.


When I organised the xmas lunch, I went to a pub with a set menu and took full payment and menu choice from my colleagues beforehand. That way at least the meal was already paid for and on the day people just order their own drinks in the bar.

mumps

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I don't drink alcohol during Lent so I normally have a litre bottle of a decent sparkling water with my meal - it isn't hard to drink that much in 2/3 hours when eating. (And I'm not one of those people who wander round sipping from a bottle water all the time.):)

I'd have an orange juice. If we are out and I had a can of Coke I couldn't drink it all. No wonder I never got into alcohol, I'd have been a real failure. I have to try to drink more, doctor's order, so I try to drink half a pint of water during the morning but it is a struggle. I don't think I feel thirst properly, I think I have only ever felt thirsty when in a really hot climate.

mumps

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Well I suppose if you had a cheerful face and chose not to tell me you couldn't afford the restaurant, then I'd assume you were eating little by choice and there wouldn't be a problem.

I enjoy the company at least as much as the food so I don't think it would be a problem. When I was a teenager my mother was always convinced I was drinking alcohol because I would get just as high and giggly as my friends, they needed the alcohol but the atmosphere was enough for me.

Georgiegirl256

mumps wrote: »

I'd have an orange juice. If we are out and I had a can of Coke I couldn't drink it all. No wonder I never got into alcohol, I'd have been a real failure. I have to try to drink more, doctor's order, so I try to drink half a pint of water during the morning but it is a struggle. I don't think I feel thirst properly, I think I have only ever felt thirsty when in a really hot climate.

I'm the same. I never feel thirsty and drink very little tbh. I try and drink more but fail, unless as you say, I'm in a hot climate.

If we're not drinking alcohol with a meal out, then I can easily just have one glass of soda drink whereas my DH can have many refills throughout the meal.

Ames

mumps wrote: »

I'd have an orange juice. If we are out and I had a can of Coke I couldn't drink it all. No wonder I never got into alcohol, I'd have been a real failure. I have to try to drink more, doctor's order, so I try to drink half a pint of water during the morning but it is a struggle. I don't think I feel thirst properly, I think I have only ever felt thirsty when in a really hot climate.

I'm the same, my family used to call me a camel.

I have to drink a lot after my hospital treatment, otherwise I get dehydrated and have the most awful headaches that last a couple of days. I drink sugar free volvic touch of fruit, if I drink a 1.5 litre bottle a day for a few days afterwards I'm fine. Plain water though, forget it. When I was in hospital with gallstones they wouldn't let me leave until I'd drunk a full jug of water, forcing it down was horrible.