Splitting the bill (alcohol !)

[anonymous-user]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 22 January 2025 at 11:14

[croyde]

This reminds me of a work dinner when a big group of us were staying away on a job in the early 90s.

Long long table with management and TV directors one end and me and the riggers down the other.

Time to pay up, even split of the bill and one of the riggers is saying 'How come I've just paid £25 for a fish and chips, plus a coke'

1990s remember.

Management had been ordering 3 courses with Fillet steak plus many bottles of wine

Sorry, I don't have a solution hence why I drink and eat loads when it's a rare group situation. No point in being picky and teatotal.

[warp9]

I think it's best to be up front and casual about it.

'Hey guys, as I'm not drinking tonight I'm going to get my drinks separately', would be my approach. To make it easier with the servers you could suggest a drinkers and non drinkers round.

Anyone in the party objecting to this is being a dick and openly ripping you off.

[Rollin]

Always order last.
Lobster starter, steak main and an XO with me fudge cake, garcon.

[QuartzDad]

warp9 said:

I think it's best to be up front and casual about it.

'Hey guys, as I'm not drinking tonight I'm going to get my drinks separately', would be my approach. To make it easier with the servers you could suggest a drinkers and non drinkers round.

Anyone in the party objecting to this is being a dick and openly ripping you off.

This.

[The Gauge]

Maybe talk to the other non drinkers and agree to sit together and have your own food and drinks bill that you split, let the drinkers have theirs. So two separate bills for each end of the table.

Let everyone going know in advance what's happening, you might find that a few want to jump ship and sit at your end of the table. When asking for the bill be sure to tell the waiter to bring two bills.

I get this problem at some family meals, one couple knock the bottles of wine back like nobody's business and they like to split the bill, whilst I'm just having a single beer or two. One year after the bill was split I paid £100 for me and the wife to have a pizza and one drink each. Never again.

Edited by The Gauge on Monday 9th December 17:46

[Wills2]

I've never experienced these kinds of people, generally it's people throwing more in because they had more and are drunk whilst telling those that didn't have much to put their money away.

And most family meals out end up in a mild argument about who is going to pay (with everyone insisting that's their turn to pay)

I prefer those scenarios and would avoid going out with people who try it on.

[Venisonpie]

Something I do (social dinners rather than work) is pay the whole bill at the end of the night so the evening flows and isn't spoiled trying to work out how much everyone needs to pay.

I take the itemised bill and create a spreasheet, send it to everyone the next day who then pay up. This way those who are not drinking or eating more modestly can relax and those who want to go large aren't restricted. I notice some places are now getting more sophisticated POS systems to help with this.

[Macneil]

Wills2 said:

I've never experienced these kinds of people, generally it's people throwing more in because they had more and are drunk whilst telling those that didn't have much to put their money away.

And most family meals out end up in a mild argument about who is going to pay (with everyone insisting that's their turn to pay)

I prefer those scenarios and would avoid going out with people who try it on.

Same here, there's never a quibble about the bill because everyone keeps an eye on what they're drinking, and puts in accordingly. It's never short.
Anything else is just taking the piss isn't it? I would definitely make sure up front that people are expected to pay their way.

Edited by Macneil on Monday 9th December 18:25

[Douglas Quaid]

The best thing to do is drink and eat as much as possible.

[The Gauge]

Macneil said:

Same here, there's never a quibble about the bill because everyone keeps an eye on what they're drinking, and puts in accordingly. It's never short.
Anything else is just taking the piss isn't it? I would definitely make sure up front that people are expected to pay their way.

Edited by Macneil on Monday 9th December 18:25

Problem is there are always people who drink heavy on the understanding that the bill is being split so why not? Those who aren't drinking could do if they wanted, so not their fault. A selfish outlook perhaps, so best to set the record straight in advance so it's fair.

[Mobile Chicane]

It's a bit of a PITA for staff to arrange individual bills, but not that big a deal. It happens more and more often.

What I would suggest however, is that you look at the menu and pre-order, including any dietaries.

That will make staff so much better disposed.

[BoRED S2upid]

Wills2 said:

I've never experienced these kinds of people, generally it's people throwing more in because they had more and are drunk whilst telling those that didn't have much to put their money away.

And most family meals out end up in a mild argument about who is going to pay (with everyone insisting that's their turn to pay)

I prefer those scenarios and would avoid going out with people who try it on.

Exactly this. If I can have a lift home I happily buy the non drivers drinks all night.

OP you need some better mates.

[RayDonovan]

I'm a non drinker so this comes up fairly often.

Usual rule of thumb is that I'll get my own drinks as I won't actually drink that much (compared to people on Points).

I've also done it when 1 person pays and then bills you afterwards for what you've had

People not drinking at meals and events is becoming more and more popular, whether it's health reasons or transport issues. Unfair for people to knock back a load of booze and expecting it to be subsidized.

[Terminator X]

Get your own if a non drinker or small drinker. If drinking then just man up and split the bill.

TX.

[croyde]

When eating in Northern Tenerife, the non drinkers cost more than the drinkers

Glass of coke. €2.00
Beer. €1.20

[untakenname]

Most places, even upmarket ones will ask the table now if you're splitting the bill, in not then just make sure to pipe up when ordering.

[fadfad]

easy solution to this

tot up what your food and drink come to, take cash, pay your bill plus 10-20% tip as cash to whoever is paying the bill by card/phone

job done

no one can dispute as you have paid your share plus 10-20%

[ATG]

Depends what kind of places you're at and what you're drinking. If it's beers and rounds, then we usually have a wip round for the booze, paying by the round, then split the food bill. Non drinkers get a free ride on the wip. If it's reet posh with table clothes, plates and other fancy stuff likes spoons, then I'd just ask for the drinks and food to be billed separately. Food bill split equally, drinks bill split between the boozers.

[SydneyBridge]

fadfad said:

easy solution to this

tot up what your food and drink come to, take cash, pay your bill plus 10-20% tip as cash to whoever is paying the bill by card/phone

job done

no one can dispute as you have paid your share plus 10-20%

This is what I do and pay first so everyone knows