Drinks in restaurants?

[SlushMountain]

Say a family of 5 go to a restaurant, is it acceptable to buy only 2 refillable drinks and share them or is that not allowed/ frowned upon? Last time I went we spent £20 on just drinks! What do other people do?

Bringing a glass from home is literally stealing from the restaurant. It really isn't okay at all.

well I wouldn’t do that but I doubt she cares what you think tbh 😂🤣

The comments on this thread are quite funny.

Me and DH often go to places where drinks are refillable (Harvester is a big one here) and I order tap water while he get a refill. Once my drink is gone we’ll generally share his. Nobody cares and as we’re both paying for 2 full price meals, one drink and sometimes a pudding between us, I think they’re making enough from us 🤷‍♀️

I just want to reassure you that ordering a jug of tap water for the table is an entirely normal thing, not just normal for MN.

Sometimes lots of posters will try to convince you things are normal when they aren’t (not washing their bodies every day, not cleaning their house/ skirting boards ever, wearing a bra for months without washing it etc. ), but I promise you that ordering a jug of water for the table IS a perfectly normal and socially acceptable thing to do.

Thank you! I’m buying 5 adult meals which aren’t cheap, I’m sure that’s enough money like you say.

I always have tap water in restaurants as I don’t like fizzy or sweet drinks. No need to be embarrassed, I’ve done it everywhere from Pizza Hut to Michelin starred places, it’s fine.

That’s a ridiculous argument. You might as well say "I’m buying 5 adult meals which aren’t cheap, I’m sure that’s enough money like you say, so I’m going to take their cutlery home with me because I could do with some more." Wouldn't you regard that as stealing?

Out of interest, would you think it was reasonable to buy one refillable drink and share it between ten children? If not, what’s the maximum number you would think was reasonable?

Exactly, sorry I have a broken thumb and my texting is not perfect.

I’d do it. It isn’t rude - you don’t get much for free in this world so why wouldn’t you do it to save money on a couple of drinks?

Lots of people request tap water.
The restaurant must have thought through the refillable policy before putting it on the menu.

It is rude!

The restaurant's policy on refillable drinks will be one each!

Yeah you don't get to decide what's 'enough money', don't be daft

I take my kids to Nando’s. Last couple of times we were there I paid for them both to have a refillable glass instead of paying for the three of us to have one each. If I wanted a drink I just used one of theirs. We never get our money’s worth with refillables anyway. There is only so much fizzy pop one can drink. It’s completely fine.

In theory 4 or 5 people could have a paid for refillable glass and ‘get their money’s worth 5 or 6 times over if they liked. On the next table 2 people might be sharing a paid for glass and only refill once or one and a half times. I doubt it’s in the company’s interests to police the glasses. It’s just a quick way for them to make some easy money anyway.

However there will plenty of people who find this completely unacceptable, because 1) they would never go to such an establishment as Nando’s in the first place 2) children should never ever be allowed fizzy drinks
My point is: do what you like.

It’s totally in their interests to keep an eye on this stuff. Say your refillable drink is £3.95. The cost of the fountain drinks is pennies so they’re happy - fill your boots. But you’ve paid that £3.95 so for a family of four they’re getting £16. When someone shares that drink they’re only now paying £1.43 each for the same thing and the family pays £8. Again, in the big scheme of things they’re still making some money. But over the course of a week quite a bit less money. And then everyone reckons they’ll do that and they end up losing thousands, and they decide instead to just scrap the refillable as people are taking the piss and start charging £3 for a single drink instead and make the same profit or more. So everyone pays more.

Thanks 😂 yeah already had to "Yabu for going to Pizza Hut!" It wasn't even Pizza Hut I was referring to it was just an example (although the kids do like it!) it's most chain restaurants like Pizza Hut, Nando's, TGI Fridays, Harvester, Toby carvery 😂 most places mumsnetters wouldn't be seen dead in 🤦🏻‍♀️

I know you're hell bent on making this a snobby thing but it really isn't. Love a TGIs. Still pay for what we have though...

What are you on about? Do you think you are a lone figure or something, of course posters go to chain places with their kids.

I tell a lie. I ate at a chain on Saturday - The Botanist. We don't have many chain eateries near where I live which is why it is usually Indian or a pub. No snobbery from me about chains.

Doesn’t matter about whether the establishment is chain or not, doesn’t stop your behaviour from equating to theft. Theft in front of your kids.

Theft in a chain is still theft. In front of your kids too.

They probably stole the glass too on a previous visit.

Otherwise it would be obvious the glass was different.

I’ll live 😂. I do hope the DC won’t be writing to Take a Break in years to come with a ‘shameless thief mother TANKED Nando’s- took some swigs of MY drink instead of PAYING for her OWN- now we are SCARRED FOR LIFE’ headline.