Equal bill splitting annoyance

What about the drinks?

What happens if you don't want boozy drinks though? I can only have one glass of wine, especially on a work night. I have no desire to wake up with a headache.

Why do people think it's ok to rip off their so-called friends? Pay for what you consume.

Agree that taking cash is a good option, you just leave it on the table or get someone to pay for yours and theirs on their card and keep the cash.

How dare people not have as much money as you do. That is such a silly comment to make.

I would say in advance the next time a trip is organised that I'd rather everyone pay for drinks separately - or even better, everything separately. I absolutely hate bill splitting unless everyone gets the same set menu or everyone is a non-drinker or something.

The last time bill splitting was sprung upon me I was left to overpay twice as much as my meal cost. Every time it happens I end up annoyed.

Why do you care if people eat a salad / want to keep to their budget?

The thing is that it very often doesn’t. People usually have habits in their consumption so there will be someone in the group who always has a few glasses of wine with dinner, and someone who genuinely is happy with just a soda, or is vegetarian (which is almost always the cheapest option) : it never evens out if they just split the bill equally every time.

Exactly. And why is it ok they don’t.

I always take cash with me. When the bill comes, I roughly know what I’ve spent and round it up for a tip. I then put my money on the table and say this covers what I’ve had and tip. If we’ve all been drinking I’d split bill but otherwise it’s not fair

Drinkers should volunteer to pay more up front when the bill arrives. That’s good manners.

Id start the evening off by saying you should all pay separately for your meals … end of story !!

5/6 of us very old friends meet once a week for an early dinner in a midrange restaurant. Two of us don't drink. My share costs between 20/25 euro. Two starters and maybe z coffee or a main course. Those who drink wd usually share a bottle of wine plus another glass. The difference is huge. ..their share wd be 45/50 euro. We always split the bill and pay for what each consumed. No problem whatsoever.We are all pensioners and have been friends since college.

Have a non alcoholic one at the bar and join the others on a boozy one or two at the table. That might make it feel more balanced maybe?

I have a friend who tends to order the most expensive main and has around 3 alcoholic drinks per meal where I will just have a coke or water. In the past I subbed her a lot as we would just split the bill equally and I didn't feel like it was polite to call it out. More recently, I've taken the tactic to order more items or a more expensive main than I wanted just so to equalise how much we are each spending. She has got visibly annoyed with me a few times. I avoid going out with her now.

I've also read the thread and haven't seen anything from @MasterBethto indicate why people who don't pay their fair share aren't also seen as penny pinchers, only the ones who feel it isn't fair to keep subsidising them but are happy to pair their share

Well I've read your thread your thread carefully, and totally agree with ImGoneUnderground Why the hell subsidise other peoples greed.

So why then do the expensive drinkers & big eaters assume that their 'friends' that are eating and drinking far less deserve to pay for them, just to enjoy their company.

Read the thread.

I've explained myself plenty of times.

Then why do the expensive drinkers & big eaters assume that their 'friends' deserve to pay for them, just to enjoy their company? (Reminds me of that old episode of 'Friends' - 'The one with five steaks and one eggplant' I think).
How do you know whether or not people can afford it?
So, the 'penny pinching' ones are the ones who subsidise the greedy B's are mean? Not the greedy B's??
Get separate bills, easy these days, make it clear before the meal that everyone pays for their own consumption. Sorted. (and then see how much the 'friends' consume'). I am happy to pay for myself, cocktails n all, would never expect my friends to subsidise me.
Why do the greedy piss takers always complain about the non piss takers??? :) Kindly explain, as I have no comprehension (unless I have invited my friends & said words to the effect 'its on me'. ). XX (or go to Nandos, lol & pay your own effing bill).

Good for you for telling them I deteste people like this and wouldn’t keep meeting them to be honest. I’m always the drinker in the gang and I always pay more if I’ve been drinking and some others haven’t.

More recently people I go out with have basically started telling me to pay what I’ve eaten and then they split the rest. I don’t drink and they all drink loads.

Years ago o had a falling out with work colleagues when we went for a meal. I was skint and in my overdraft so ordered a £5 pizza and drank water. Because of the group size we got 10% added to the bill. When it came to paying they wanted to split the 10% however for me it should have been 50p and the split came to £5 each. I point blank refused and was called alsorts.

The two that are drinking alcohol... How on earth are they spending £100!! They must be sloshed by the end of the evening!

This is the problem with equal bill splitting. There's always someone who will take the piss and eat/drink loads more than everyone else.

Exactly! I have no problem with paying the odd extra £ for friends if it works both ways. It's the persistently greedy over eaters/drinkers who always expect you to pay £££ for them.

I would ask that everyone gets drinks at the bar when they need them, and pay for those themselves. I don't drink, one large Coke or something would last me the meal but people who drink must push it up quite a bit. Only exception would be with my partner, but we usually just take it in turns to pay the full bill

I don't drink either. We always ask for the food and the drinks bills to be separate.

Why? Because they haven't subsided you?