Money Moral Dilemma: Should I have paid for alcohol-free drinks at a bring-your-own restaurant?

MSE_Kelvin

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

Some friends and I recently ate at a local bring-your-own-bottle restaurant (outside, of course). I don't drink, so brought alcohol-free beer. The owner wasn't happy as the restaurant sells the same beer, though at five times the price I paid. I felt it was unfair I should be asked to pay inflated prices for alcohol-free drinks when my friends were free to bring as much cheap booze as they wanted. In the end, the owner said she'd 'allow it just this once'. But who was right?

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Marcon

Isn't this a non-dilemma, since you didn't have to pay?

Hodgie

Why not call into a supermarket and pick up food on the way to the restaurant; I'm sure they will heat it up for you?  That way you won't have a bill to pay at the end of the meal.

fuzBear

If you think the prices are unfair, drink tap water. 

The restaurant either doesn't hold a licence or doesn't want to obtain one. But trying to encourage business by permitting BYOB. I can't think of any restaurant that would allow turning up with your own drinks (outside of BYOB). What's in it for them? Shouldn't we all do our bit, to help local businesses to recover. 

FarmGirl78

Hodgie said:

Why not call into a supermarket and pick up food on the way to the restaurant; I'm sure they will heat it up for you?  That way you won't have a bill to pay at the end of the meal.

But this was a "bring your own beer" restaurant. He brought his own beer. It just happened to be alcohol free.

PaulTee

Ask your friends for empty beer bottles. Soak these in water so that the labels come of. Do the same with the alcohol free beer. Now put thelabels from the alcohol beer on to the alcohol free beer so that it now appears that they qualify under the BYOB.
Seriously, presumably alcohol free beer is still beer so qualifies.

Tim11111000111

Allowing it "just this once" would be good enough for me, because it's not as if I'd ever be going back there!

Nothing in OP's post refers specifically to only being allowed to BYO alcoholic drinks only, although I appreciate that the wording above might differ slightly from what the restaurant itself states. Moreover, the restaurant owner has made the conscious decision to permit people to bring their own drinks and miss out on that revenue, presumably because they can't or don't want to get the appropriate licence. It does seem ridiculous that you can bring your own alcohol (and not pay the restaurant a penny), you can order tap water (and not pay the restaurant a penny) but if you want a soft drink you are expected to pay for that. I assume OP ate at the restaurant and paid for their food, which is presumably the main business model for the restaurant.

Finally, no matter who is technically correct, what kind of restaurant owner makes a big fuss over something so minor? I dare say the loss of custom and potential for negative reviews would far outweigh the cost of a couple of alcohol free beers!

MarcMCFC1986

PaulTee said:

Ask your friends for empty beer bottles. Soak these in water so that the labels come of. Do the same with the alcohol free beer. Now put thelabels from the alcohol beer on to the alcohol free beer so that it now appears that they qualify under the BYOB.
Seriously, presumably alcohol free beer is still beer so qualifies.

Isn't BYOB 'Bring Your Own Booze'? And alcohol free isn't booze.

Builder_Dave

BYOB also means 'bring your own booze/bottle", it's purely for alcoholic drinks. You should have purchased their non-alcoholic beer, had a soft drink or nipped out to the local off-licence.

FarmGirl78 said:

Hodgie said:

Why not call into a supermarket and pick up food on the way to the restaurant; I'm sure they will heat it up for you?  That way you won't have a bill to pay at the end of the meal.

But this was a "bring your own beer" restaurant. He brought his own beer. It just happened to be alcohol free.

BYOB is Booze/Bottle/Beer in other words alcoholic drinks. All drinks should be purchased at the establishment unless you're drinking water or alcoholic drinks. If in doubt check with the restaurant before you go.

lordrobs

Seems pretty unfair. What if you are the designated driver, you get to pay £5 for a Becks Blue while your friends all down the real deal for £1.50 a pop! Or what if you have health problems, or don't drink for religious reasons, or are pregnant etc? What if you thought it would be awkward being the only one to order drinks and you were planning to split the bill? So many reasons why the owner should have been thankful for your custom and letting you enjoy your evening rather than calling you out on it.

robhansen

I'm actually shocked at the people saying you should have paid. A policy of bring your own alcohol but pay for anything else makes absolutely no sense. It should stand for 'bring your own beverage' because penalising people by only charging them for not drinking alcohol is just a ridiculous business model. Either you want to make money from the food and forget about the drinks revenue or you don't let people bring any drinks in. You don't start sneaking around people's tables to check the label on the bottles they bring.