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?

It's not cheap at all. It's actually being very healthy. If you were ordering one sandwich and then sharing it amongst 5 people? That would be cheap. Having ice water with your meal keeps you hydrated and your thirst quenched without a bunch of sugar.

And this is why prices go up in restaurants because of cheapskates like you. Just pay for what you have, bloody hell. Can't believe you would even think this is OK.

I don't understand why it is embarrassing to the op it is just water.

If you really want to ask if it's OK then you can ask in the place where you intend to go. But you re asking a bunch of strangers on the Internet, meaning you're basically seeing if enough of us do the same to ease your conscience about essentially stealing.
You know it's wrong.

Why is asking for tap water embarrassing? 🤣 We always ask for a jug of water, even if we have other drinks too. But sometimes just a jug of water because we like water… now I feel like a tight arse 😂

I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing that, though we avoid refillable as usually only manage a glass and a bit’s worth each. No qualms about asking for tap water when we’re having food.

I will just ask for the tap water, I didn’t realise so many people got it as the only person I know that orders it is my mum. So fair enough will just get tap water.

Absolutely not ... its refillable fir one person to drink

DH used to be shy asking for tap water years ago but now he is more casual about it than me. Even in Michelin star restaurants when the waiter asks 'Still or sparkling?', DH says 'Tap water, please.'

Nothing wrong with asking for tap water! I don’t like the taste of sparkling and I find it silly / not v planet friendly that companies are shipping water across countries in bottles when tap is perfectly drinkable in the UK…

Ordering tap water is perfectly normal, even in chain restaurants, whether or not you order any other drinks. Taking your own drinks (like taking your own food) is OK for toddlers. If you order and pay for food or drinks of course it's perfectly acceptable to share them with other members of your party. HOWEVER, refillable drinks are per person! Would you take five people to a buffet or carvery and only pay for two?

It is perfectly acceptable to ask for tap water in a restaurant (as long you are ordering food!).

In many upmarket establishments they bring the tap water to your table anyway without being asked.

It is very different to sharing plates! Obviously two people will drink more of the refillable drinks than one person will.

Its stealing, and entitled!. You're taking something you haven't paid for and trying to justify it with 'I can't afford it'.

Would you walk into a shop and do that?

Just drink tap water.

Well this is very different. Do you share the first derby or do you refill?

It might help to think of all the restaurants that put jugs of drinking water on the tables.

I've been to plenty like that.

I know Pizza Hut don't, but it still shows how many people prefer water with their food.

There is a massive mark up on drinks so the restaurant would still make a profit on the drinks if two people out of four ordered refillable drinks and water for the table with four glasses, and shared the fizzy drink out that way. Go for it, OP.

I also often order just a small plate or starter for my main in a pub as they are about 600 calories anyway which is a normal sized meal for me, not a 1200 calorie deep fried gutbuster, most of which will be wasted.

Unless there is a minimum spend which you don't reach, I can't see anyone objecting to your being there and spending money as opposed to saving your money and staying at home.

Hospitality is not doing well now as the UK is full of poor to mediocre mid range but expensive places who have been too expensive for years. Furlough, Eat Out to Help Out and then pandemic borrowing kept many going when they might otherwise have gone under much sooner.

Cost of living means that people are making more frugal/careful choices, but also there is an overall trend of eating/drinking/entertainment at home which has been going on for twenty years plus now.

£20 on 5 drinks is not “crazy” - that sounds more of a cheapskate than asking for tap water 🤣 My dd always has tap water because she dislikes carbonated drinks.

Speaking of snobby…why is it embarrassing to have tap water? It’s the most normal thing to do, we always get it.

You mean I get a bottomless glass of Prosecco then share it around? Of course that’s unacceptable. The drinks are per person - there has to be a base payment for it.
@KittytheHarei don’t think tap water counts - I’ve never seen a restaurant charge for that!

I don't often go to places that offer this, but as I understand it, the rule is that the whole table must pay for endless refills if that's what you order. Apart from in McDonald's

Hospitality will do even worse if the OP follows your advice! A refillable drink is one glass for one person and you know that - don't be a skinflint, if you can't afford what you want then don't go.

Ive been in pretty much every place there is that offers refills. This isnt a rule I've ever come across.

The whole table doesn’t need to order them but each is for a single person only.

I must admit I was confused by that post too.

Why on earth would everyone at the table need to order a refill if they didn't want one?