Smuggling alcohol into a wedding reception?

[jessie777]

Would you? Have you?! Did you get caught?!

No I wouldn't do it and it's a scummy thing to do. I'm horrified so many people would.

If you can't afford to drink at the venue you are not forced to.

Don't be that person.

Two lads at my DCs 21st party did this. They thought they were so smart. Sadly for them no-one had told them it was a free bar! The memory of them sneaking over to their backpacks for a crafty top up still makes me smile.

Someone bought a bottle of Rose to ours as we were only offering champagne, red and white wine, lager, Guinness, bitter and soft drinks, free all day. I giggled a bit but didn't mind

I did this all through college at balls, no regrets. The hotels had a captive audience and were charging extortionate prices just because they could.

I feel much the same about weddings. If hotels want guests paying for drinks at the bar, they shouldn't behave like absolute gougers and charge overly high prices. Until that day, I'll feel no shame at sneaking something in!

Absolute best way to do it is to take the booze in a large camera bag - totally plausible.

Done it successfully at a few events. Never a wedding tbh. Not really sure about that one.

Not at a wedding, but quite often at shows (I trade at events and am usually paying a good chunk of money for my pitch so not prepared to be ripped off by the bar as well. Some venues are pissier than others about this.)
Also when on tour with mates (we are folk dancers who go from pub to pub) it's widely accepted that some of us will arrive with our own drinks that we brought 'from the last pub', etc.

I couldn't get worked up about someone doing this really.

I'm sooooooo that person

I do it on very rare normal nights out aswell. Means I can have a couple of decent drinks and not budget spirits that really disagree with me.

I'meant going to a wedding soon where I will smuggling in my own posh squash. I was wondering how, but that Capri Sun idea is genius. Thanks.

How is taking your own drink into licensed premises not theft?

Would I? Yes.

Have I? Yes.

Bride and Groom didn't give a shit, they were drinking it with us

I don't think I it's classed as theft as the venue's aren't being deprived of anything, well maybe in the cases where people take wine etc but those like me who would still buy soft drinks anyway to put a couple of cheeky spirits in I don't think it is

Not a theft that I could get worked up over though.

Of course they're being deprived! What might seem excessive profit to you has to pay overheads, staffing, maintenance, constant redecoration, catering and the owners' wages.

They're not a charity and they aren't doing it for love. I can't believe people also do it in pubs!

Do you also take your own meals into restaurants?

They aren't being deprived because I'd only buy soft drinks anyway, and probably less of them tbh.

And no, of course I don't take my own meals into restaurants

There's a profit on all drink!

And what's the difference? You are depriving the licensee of his income whilst using his premises and facilities.

CookieWarbler - a 'car bar'! What a brilliant idea. I love it.

I have done, lots of times. Usually a spirit in a gift bag and just buy cokes.

Of course they're being deprived! What might seem excessive profit to you has to pay overheads, staffing, maintenance, constant redecoration, catering and the owners' wages.

Yes but where do you draw the line. All venues could say the same thing, but charging excessively at the bar to pay for all that isnt the way to do it. If all bars and restaurants did the same they'd soon be out of business. Theres a difference between acceptable profit and extortionate greed.

"I can't believe people also do it in pubs!

Do you also take your own meals into restaurants?"

This ^^
Taking your own drinks into a pub (not an expensive hotel) is exactly the same as bringing your own food into a restaurant or cafe. It's theft.

We've had cans of G&T in the car at a reception before. Not so classy but drinks can add lots of £££ to the cost of the day..

The difference is im personally not permanently depriving them of anything. I'd buy the soft drinks regardless, it just might mean I'd buy less of them (I'm one of those who can cradle a coke for an hour or more) and probably go home earlier. If anything I spend more on soft drinks when I sneak a few mini's in than when im driving.

I understand I'm maybe being a bit too technical on the definition of theft in this case, but the fact is my taking a few minis in has no effect on their income from me whatsoever. Well actually it does, I spend probably around £10 instead of £5.

That being said I do understand its frowned upon by some.

Yes but where do you draw the line

It's not my line to draw.

I either go and pay the prices (up to my limit) or I don't go.

Same as I don't frequent the Ritz that often.

No, I wouldn't. It's pretty selfish as it reflects badly on the couple getting married and causes problems for the venue.

I do the opposite. A lot of places round our way only stock fevertree tonic which to my palate tastes like water and doesn't come in a proper slim line version. So I smuggle little tins of Schweppes slimline tonic in and just buy gin at the bar. I normally buy one bottle of the evil fevertree and keep it on the table as camouflage.

I wish I had done this when I went to NY last week where, to my horror , I discovered they don't have slimline tonic and what tonic they do serve in bars often comes out of a squirty pump. Uncivilised!