Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

To expect that if you're a single person out with a couple, that every person buys a round of drinks?

115 replies

pimplywrinkle · 11/12/2013 08:20

...instead of the couple acting as a joint turn together. This couple live together and pool their budget/money and so I expect they think the cost of a turn comes out of a single bank account. Just seems a little unfair really when I just have the one wage and am buying the same number of drinks in a round

OP posts:

beals692 · 11/12/2013 08:23

It's fine as long as they share one drink with a couple of straws :-) If they count as one person when it comes to paying then they are one person when it comes to the drinks too.

addictedtosugar · 11/12/2013 08:24

Nope, your buying 3 drinks, so you buy 1 round in 3.
Find some new friends!

Shnickyshnackers · 11/12/2013 08:25

well speak up if you think its tight they obviously need telling!

Volume121 · 11/12/2013 08:25

Yanbu
I would say something next Time

SouthernComforts · 11/12/2013 08:33

Yanbu. Tis the law of rounds.

Jinty64 · 11/12/2013 08:35

YANBU. I agree, one drink, two straws.

Financeprincess · 11/12/2013 08:40

God, this drives me mad! I remember splitting up with a boyfriend once over it. We went out with his sister and her husband and they did the tight arsed 'one couple, one round' thing.

Told the boyfriend afterwards that I thought it was unacceptable, but he couldn't see anything wrong with it. It didn't bode well for the future! (Also, he had some quite annoying habits).

ZillionChocolate · 11/12/2013 08:41

Yes. Although if I go out with DH I often don't bother taking money. I make him buy two rounds (from the joint account).

SteamWisher · 11/12/2013 08:44

Well I wouldn't even think of it but I'm in a couple. However I'd make sure we bought a round each (me and DH) even though one pot. I get a bit paranoid about being seen as tight.

QuintessentialShadows · 11/12/2013 08:44

I hate the whole "rounds thing". I always just say "no thanks, thats all right, I need to have a think so I will go up later". I cant keep track of it.

flipchart · 11/12/2013 08:44

fiance
I'm not sure i get the problem. Couple a buys a round, couple B buys. Round then couple A. Is that what you are saying.

If yes what's the problem with that? Everyone I know that goes out in couple doe this.

NigellasLeftNostril · 11/12/2013 08:46

do people actually still buy rounds?
i never buy a round if i go to the pub and if anyone offers me a drink I say no thank you, I cannot get into a round situation.

flipchart · 11/12/2013 08:51

When DH or DS go out they buy in rounds.there are about four or 5 other couples we go out with and it is always rounds.

Same if I go out with mates. So yes people still do buy in rounds. (Up here anyway!)

2cats2many · 11/12/2013 08:53

YANBU. I'm part of a couple and I would always buy a round independent of my husband.

Flipchart the problem is that the OP is single, so she is essentially paying more into the 'round kitty' than she is taking out. It's ok once in a while but definitely not ok if its happening regularly.

FruOla · 11/12/2013 08:55

I agree that the couple should buy a drink each, or two rounds if out of joint money.

We stopped doing rounds in the pub years ago - each person just buys their own. DP stopped going to our local when he realised that he was constantly buying drinks for other people, but some of them never reciprocated.

Financeprincess · 11/12/2013 08:57

The problem was that I bought a drink, then my former boyfriend bought a drink, then the couple bought a drink. Then they looked expectantly at me and told me what they wanted next.

Sorry, didn't explain that too well, did I?

FloweryTaleofNewYork · 11/12/2013 08:58

I'd send DH up twice

[lazy]

DowntonTrout · 11/12/2013 08:59

We go out mostly in couples and we buy alternate rounds as couples.

However, if I am out without DH I am always first to the bar to make sure I remember to buy my round, because I'm not used to doing it and want to make sure I don't forget.

Also, some people wouldn't dream of letting me buy a round if I was on my own and they were in couples. I have to insist. I don't know anyone who would do what you have described OP.

MrsMook · 11/12/2013 09:03

Rounds are very anoying. I'm a very slow drinker so by the time round 3 falls on me, I'm still happily sipping through the first half of my first (cheap) drink, and find that apparently it's my turn to buy drinks when I've go no need for one. I cater for myself, although don't get in that situation much now.

And don't start me on the cheapskate, the one that normally has a coke, but will have a whisky in it if someone else is paying.

PenelopeLane · 11/12/2013 09:03

When I lived in the UK round etiquette used to bamboozle me as a non-Brit from a country that doesn't do rounds in quite the same way! I'd say YANBU, but am not sure.

I have 2 other round etiquette questions while I'm on the topic though as never quite figured it out: is it tight to have one drink of choice in all the rounds, but to buy yourself a cheaper drink (or not one at all) when it's your turn to pay? Also - is it seen as rude/less fun to stay out of the rounds on purpose?

NigellasLeftNostril · 11/12/2013 09:06

"is it tight to have one drink of choice in all the rounds, but to buy yourself a cheaper drink (or not one at all) when it's your turn to pay"
yes

"is it seen as rude/less fun to stay out of the rounds on purpose?"
maybe a bit 'less fun' but not really rude, esp these days.

PenelopeLane · 11/12/2013 09:08

Thanks NigellasLeftNostril, now I know I was in the right to feel slightly bitter about the colleague who was drinking g&t's then had juice when she was paying! Next time am in that situation again will have the confidence to scowl more openly

flipchart · 11/12/2013 09:13

God yes, of course it is rude to buy yourself a cheaper drink but quite happily have a shot in it when someone else is paying.

I really don't care when I'm in a round what people get as long as they are consistent and don't pull that stunt.

greenfolder · 11/12/2013 09:13

Rarely do rounds cos it doesn't work-we just chuck a tenner in a whip at the start and go from there. Yadnbu

FruOla · 11/12/2013 09:15

"And don't start me on the cheapskate, the one that normally has a coke, but will have a whisky in it if someone else is paying."

In the days when we were still doing rounds, it got to my turn - I asked around the table what everyone wanted. One guy said a pint of beer (same thing he'd been drinking), then he said to me "I'm nearer the bar than you are, I'll go and get the drinks for you". So I thanked him and gave him the money. When he'd returned he handed over a few pennies change (not a few pounds), put his drink down on the table and said "I hope you don't mind, I changed my mind and I've got a large G&T".

If he'd asked for a large G&T in the first place, I would have bought it anyway ..... but

Flip

1 2 3 4 5