What do people think about stealing a glass from a bar?

[Wintersnow234]

Was on holiday with friends recently and one of the group stole a glass from the bar - as they liked the glass. The group was a bit divided afterwards when we found out. I was in the camp where it was thought to be wrong... and a bit cringey..what do others think?

People who do this - if you liked a glass you saw in a shop, would you just take it?

It's theft.

I've got several branded glasses from pubs and I haven't stolen any of them. I've asked for and been given them free or for a donation in a charity box.

No but I really , really want to steal tiny milk-jugs (places like M&S and John Lewis cafe) but I don't because I'm not like that

(And I only have soya latte when I'm out so no milk on the side )

It’s stealing and twatty.

Yep. It is. I have done it from a hotel though.

DP ‘collects’ interesting branded pint glasses from pubs. His justification is that pubs used to serve all beer in identical unbranded glasses, then the marketing ‘twats’ introduced the branded glass as an attempt to turn the humble working man’s pint into a ‘premium brand’, so they could charge more for it. If he has to pay more to advertise the brand he is drinking to the rest of the pub, he reckons he can keep the glass as his ‘fee’.

My family used to own a pub.

We rarely got "free" glasses, as mostly bought our beers etc from small local brewers. Anything that got nicked from us had to be replaced. Yeah, basic glasses aren't expensive, but we ran on a very small margin anyway

Some pubs, if you are nicking a glass you are directly stealing from the landlord and his family. But if that doesn't bother you then what can I say?

It's stealing, twattish behavior.

The bit I don’t get is, as someone mentioned, if you saw a glass you liked in a shop, you wouldn’t just pocket it?!?

I'd think that it was par for the course if you were all under 20 and on your first drunken holiday without parents.
If not it just seems twatty

My MILs cupboard is full of pint glasses from various pubs that DH nicked in his youth. I have one Coors Light half pint glass that I drunkenly asked the pub landlord if I could keep it and he said yes. We also have a matching pair of Smirnoff glasses that were a wedding present off DHs uncle when he ran a pub (we liked them so much we kept joking to him that we'd pinch them, so he promised he would give us two as a wedding present which he did).

It is technically stealing, but as a few PP have said, pubs expect glasses to disappear (not that it makes it right!) and they do get given the glasses for free from the brewery so it doesn't cost the pub anything.

I just asked DBIL who owns a pub. He doesn’t care so long as they spend loads and aren’t a wanker.

Seriously, no. Would you steal from costa because you want a free mug? Or you need some teaspoons or salt cellar?

We didn't really care when I managed a bar. We're sent the glasses for free anyway and have masses in the back

The bit I don’t get is, as someone mentioned, if you saw a glass you liked in a shop, you wouldn’t just pocket it?!?

Most probably not, but the goalposts move when you add alcohol. I work in a hotel with bar/restaurant attached and open to the public, and we're also regularly replacing salts and peppers. We don't have vinegar/sauces in pots anymore, we use branded disposable bottles as they vanished too regularly to replace. And that's without the fact our pictures are screwed into the walls rather than hung on picture hooks as we've had them pinched, and we don't have small ornaments or flower vases on the tables or in the rooms as they walk too. Latest one is the new cups that we serve coffee in, caught someone putting it in their shopping bag because it's 'nice'.
People have no respect, that's why, and they either don't realise, or don't care that a business having to constantly pay to replace stuff is going to save money elsewhere, like on staff, reducing hours or even less likely to get a pay rise. But, well it's no big deal if you're not affected right?!

My brother once saw a gang of lads carrying an outdoor table, chairs and parasol set out of a pub garden

One assumes the landlord called the police for that one

It's theft and it's wrong

But having said that, when I was growing up I don't think I entered a single home (including ours) that didn't have a pub ashtray in it.

Everyone who is confident the pubs won't mind - why not just ask, then? Why sneak glasses out?

I don't think a lot about it either way. I've never come across it. But maybe I've been eased into a life of petty crime by going to restaurants with my grandmother who'd take home packets of sugar and an extra slice of cake.

Wasn't there a thread once where people were saying it was practically the done thing at Centre Parcs to take the Costa cups?

My local serves the kids Ice-creams and most soft drinks in any random glass they find because so many glasses are nicked. It’s become annoying as the kids always argue over the bigger ice cream dish and ordering something like lime and soda is a total pot luck to how much you get. They’ve just given up

I Have asked before and been given a glass.
I once loved a bowl some Dahl came in at restaurant so much I asked who supplier was. Manager offered me some at ‘cost price’. Walked home with 4 beautiful bowls and very odd bill. Only 1 left - I am a breaker.
Although I’m a good stealer I think (I guess that is) - audacious and calm when need to be - I’d lose my career if I was caught Also glasses always seem very bulky to spirit away !

There’s no “technically” about it,
it’s stealing. I think less of anyone who does it. I also noticed a friend had a fancy hotel-branded towel at the gym last week that she told
me she stole (though she doesn’t think it’s “stealing”). £15,000 5* holiday to Dubai and she feels entitled to take the towel. I think less of her too now. People taking things - pepper grinders at restaurants etc etc - all leads to increased costs which are passed on to customers. Like me. Things aren’t free.

I bought a towel from most beautiful hotel I’ve ever been to in Greece recently. I don’t tend to use it publicly as I assume others will assume it’s stolen. A private honest pleasure at home.

Oh god..we've got 3 san miguel pint glasses and a fancy spirit glass from pubs.