To think you can’t sit in a pub all evening and not buy a single drunk

Wow, they sound like fun and I say that as someone who doesn't drink a huge amount and isn't into getting pissed. They are rude. The least they could do is buy a coffee or a coke. The venue will notice and say something eventually.

If they are told to buy something or leave, then ask for tap water instead, ie not paying for a drink, that's a liberty, embarrassing and even bigger CF behaviour.

But why should I have to drink more than I want if DH (or whoever I'm with) has another one? If I kept drinking I'd need the loo and I really try not to use public toilets unless I absolutely have to!

Just to be clear, I wouldn't sit in a pub without a drink like OP's friends, I just don't necessarily want more than one drink.

What’s embarrassing about asking for tap water?
Thats all I can drink due to medical reasons!!!

How mean and shameless and what an outrageous comment to you. No way would I want these tight fisted women friends of mine.

Our local pub barred a ladies darts team because they never bought any drinks

Is there really nowhere else to meet?

I would order tonic water or at least something but honestly I would decline the invite if every meet up was at a pub. I’d happily travel out farther though for somewhere else if need be.

I thought this was obvious, you can't go and sit in an establishment without ordering anything! Would think that is so rude using their facilities, taking up a table and just sitting there. Surely they can stretch to a lime and soda or something 😅 (my go to if I don't fancy a drink and not expensive at all).

the only time i try not to be long is if its very busy etc then it usually is toilets etc

If they don’t want to drink and you are being criticised for buying yourself a glass of wine, it begs the question, why are they meeting in a pub ?

They also need the others to buy something. They wouldn't get away with spending nothing if it was just them.

I had a friend who worked her way up through several CF levels. Eventually she was bringing her own teabags and milk to a coffee shop, while I paid for mine. She'd ask for a pot of hot water pretending it was for my tea, then use it to make her own.

When I realise I was effectively subsidising her free coffee shop visits, I stopped meeting anywhere this could happen.

When my son was small Macdonalds was a godsend because in almost every city there will be one and they have clean, safe, toilets. Even using Macdonalds it never occurred to me not to buy at least a coffee or a McFlurry if we wanted to use their loos.

The OP's friends sound dour, cheerless and mean.

My goodness - how rude! Both to the staff and to you.

So I paid an extortionate amount for a squeeze of lime!

You weren't just paying for the squeeze of lime.

I would say next time. ‘Right! What is everyone having? I’ll get them in. Everyone has to have a drink even if it’s just lemonade or coffee, we can’t sit in here and not order drinks, we’ll get kicked out, it’s mortifying.’

I think its weird. Like 1 person, 1 night maybe you might let it go. But I think half your group never even getting a soft drink is CF territory

But it everyone did that the place would close down. Don’t you get dehydrated?!

To be honest we rarely go out because it costs so much and I'm not working. I prefer to go for a meal than sit in a pub so we usually reserve that for when we go away. He's bought himself a Perfect Draught machine so he's quite happy when we're at home!

@PinkSparklyPussyCat Well your DH might think it's a problem when he's got nowhere to go for his couple of pints! I know my DH prefers to drink draught beer over tins/bottles.

So you are booking a table for six or seven people and nobody is buying anything?? 😮
I find this hard to believe or understand. Even if I was buying my own drink 🍷 I would cringe thinking that the others are so hard faced to sit there not buying a thing. It’s totally embarrassing.😳 I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the manager of the venue doesn’t comment very soon and refuse to let you host the club there. I think you should say something to your friends and warn them that the venue’s owner or managers most likely won’t put up with it for much longer.

I'm sure they're watching and taking note, if it is costing them to have a table taken up they won't be long about telling you all to order or leave .

I hate it myself when I go out and a place is full and people using tables and not eating or drinking just reading a book or on their phone and you just want to sit down and grab a bite to eat.

for me if im at a cafe eg tescos or asda i at least buy a cuppa tea for a bit then use the wifi etc for an hour or 2 if its not busy. or if just needing the toilet then its a donation etc

Not really my problem. I don't see how it's an issue if DH and I go out and I have one drink and he has a couple of pints. We rarely go out because of the prices these days so providing he's drinking why should I have to?

The owner or manager should grow a pair and tell the CF with the flask to fuck off!

Pub Landlady here!
We love having groups & friends meet & don't expect everyone to spend a fortune.
We regularly host book clubs, storytelling evenings, dungeon & dragons clubs etc & are happy to offer the space for free - but hospitality has some huge costs, including staff, heating, lighting, water - I could go on.
It's not a lot to expect just 1 purchase per person be it alcoholic, soft, coffee/tea to be in the venue & make use of the space.
Support your local - we do a lot of good for a lot of community events but we have bills to pay like everyone else just to keep the doors open.