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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think most people offer a brew as soon as visitors arrive

131 replies

CoheedandCambria · 03/10/2025 18:23

Light-hearted

If I'm going over to someone's house (invited), most people I know will offer a hot drink pretty much as soon as I've walked through the door. And I will do the same if anyone comes over.
This is the proper way isn't it?!

Whenever we go to PIL we have to wait aaaaages before we're offered anything and recently we only had time to pop by for just over an hour and we didn't have owt moist!

YANBU - a brew as soon as you're over the threshold
YABU - patience is a virtue

OP posts:
Original poster
CoheedandCambria · 03/10/2025 18:48

TeenLifeMum · 03/10/2025 18:47

This was true when I was younger and going places with my mum, she always had a cup of tea. It occurs to me this isn’t the case in my circle - usually it’s wine or gin 😬🙈😂

or I just pop the kettle on if I want tea.

Edited

Oh yes I'd be happy with a wine or a gin as well!

OP posts:
BankfieldForever · 03/10/2025 18:47

Well I do but I’m a lifelong tea drinker. I have a couple of younger friends who offer a drink straightaway but say ‘Its water or diet coke’.

I think hot drinks are dying out as a universal ritual. Times change.

Even workmen recently have turned down tea & coffee in favour of their own cans of coke. They took the packets of chocolate biscuits though.

TeenLifeMum · 03/10/2025 18:47

This was true when I was younger and going places with my mum, she always had a cup of tea. It occurs to me this isn’t the case in my circle - usually it’s wine or gin 😬🙈😂

or I just pop the kettle on if I want tea.

SuperSharpShooter · 03/10/2025 18:45

Nah, not here. You'll get offered something eventually 🤷
If friends or family they'll say if they need a drink or put the kettle on themselves.

We lived in Spain for a fair while so this just wasn't a thing.
I stopped making rounds of brews years ago and I won't be going back to that nonsense.
If I do do a brew (😁) it's in a pot and everyone can help themselves to milk/sugar.
Coffee percolator is on and full am/pm... same deal, help yourself.

applesandpumpkins · 03/10/2025 18:41

I reckon within the first 10- 15 minutes or so. Unless it's a workman then I'd normally offer in the first 5 minutes. But with friends and family normally say hello and have a bit of a chat first. You'll have to take a flask to the in-laws next time 😂

Muffsies · 03/10/2025 18:39

No one in my house drinks tea, but we always have some good quality English breakfast tea on hand for visitors. If i know someone is coming over I'll also get biscuits, which we don't normally have either.

It's the British way, I thought that's what everyone did? Offer a drink and a biccie, whether your visitor is close family, neighbours or a tradesperson.