Friend won’t buy rounds!

[Alladvicegratefullyreceived]

Went to pub with two friends and one paid for a round for us all (they were paying me back for something anyway so square). Second friend didn’t lift a finger out of their pocket, waited until the end and said they didn’t want another drink, never goes to the bar or buys a round. I didn’t offer on principle as have noticed a pattern. Aib unreasonable?

If you drink a lot with them, just get your own rather than rounds. Either that or suggest a kitty.

This business of buying rounds is ridiculous! I know it's traditional but that doesn't make it right

As TwoBlue says or, next time, say straightaway that the first round is on them because they didn't pay last time. They will rely on the fact that you will be too polite to say anything.

Not so single. There’s always the option to opt out of rounds and that’s fine, but if you’re in the round, you get your round in. That’s just basic etiquette.

OP, maybe lay your cards out at the start.
“Right, are we doing rounds or getting our own?”

Yes! I am meticulous about paying my fair share and if I didn’t want more would give someone cash/pay next time. This happens a fair bit with this friend. It’s just an embarrassing trait. I think next time I will publicly say to friend who bought “oh don’t buy one you bought last one” and introduce the idea re rounds vs paying for our own at the beginning...

I’m fairly sure Australia has a special police force for this sort of thing.

You just ring the freecall number, and leave it in their hands. I think they notify you by text what day the public flogging will be. Spectators welcome, free beer for all.

Honestly, give them the serious side-eye and insist the first round is on them next time. Or text the other mates and go to a different pub. When your Cheap Mate calls, tell them you wanted them to have a new experience of paying for their own drink!

Ooo I hate ‘rounds’ and opting out isn’t always an option, IME people will say ‘oh don’t be silly I’m going up anyway’ and then just get you one and boom then you’re in!
I want to buy a drink when I want a drink, not have to look at everyone else’s glasses and keep up or slow down accordingly because of bloody ‘rounds’
Get your own drinks, leave me alone

I hate rounds too. It's ok when there's just 2 of you and you take turns. But any more than that and you are beholden to waiting for other people to finish and you are thirty quid down on 2 drinks while everyone else fucks off befire they have to buy one back or are pissed on the doubles and don't want any more

I'd much rather buy my own

I thought buying rounds was a bit passe these days as you should just watch and take care of your own alcohol intake but probably more so because there is always one CF

BaBa - you sound like one of them! Just opt out then. Or give them the cash. Don’t accept it if you’re never going to return the favour, it’s really not rocket science. Height of CFery

Erm, did you miss the part where I said you can’t always opt out as ime people buy you one anyway
And howwww rude would you look in a group of people if you handed a drink back to someone that’s bought you one and said ‘no I didn’t ask for this, take it back’

Why can’t you just buy your own drink?!

I recently noticed this with a group of friends where by 1 person always spent significantly less than others. We realised she secretly would 'skip' a round by saying she didn't fancy a drink so it would move onto next person then she would join back in saying yes please to drinks. I very quickly stopped doing rounds! I use to do it because if I get served first at bar, I'll say what does everyone want - rather than individual orders. But then friends would go buy their own drinks after and not offer me one or cash back. So no YANBU to be annoyed. But better to just get your own.

Also had this recently where 4 girls were taking turns to buy bottles of prosecco at wedding, another friend wanted a glass so
We said okay you need to join in rounds. 3 bottles later we told her it was her turn. She got the hump saying I only had one glass though (she didn't!). Next wedding I am buying my own drinks as I got wasted on not knowing how much prosecco I had drank

@Skittlesandbeer Sun 24-Jun-18 23:21:23
I’m fairly sure Australia has a special police force for this sort of thing

Yup. Pretty sure we do

Why not just put a tenner in an empty glass for everyone. That is what we call a Kitty.

There is never any excess with our crowd, in fact it is topped up fiver at a time! Works brilliantly for everyone. No one takes the piss, i.e champagne cocktails lol.

Non drinkers do not mix with us.... sadly!

Only 15 replies on here so far..and.yws YANBU.
The standard reply is, "well since we've a bought you drinks in our rounds the first next time is on you or you an buy a round tonight even if you are not drinking as we bought you yours..."

There's always a CF who takes advantage and tries to suck out of their round. Be wise to it. And call them out in it!

*duck not suck, lol!

Cheeky, if she did not want to buy rounds, than she should have refused you, and told you she will buy her own, not accept. Don't get rounds next time, just buy your own, much easier.

Och, in my group she'd get at least one person saying well it's your round anyway as we bought you drinks in our round, so get up there and since you're not drinking mine's a double

It is cheeky to accept and not reciprocate. I personally don't like rounds, as I cannot afford them, drinks are very expensive, and I tend to stick with soft drinks as I don't drink much. If there is a round going, I just tell them no thanks I will buy my own.

What’s wrong with saying “your round..... get them in!”?

I dislike rounds too, they make a night out very expensive.

I remember one friend who was unemployed. She often said before a night out that she would drive in so wouldn't be drinking. She would then have a soft drink or two. The poor thing only drove because if she came out and said she would not join the round, someone was bound to get her a drink and she didn't have any way to pay them back. In the end she stopped meeting up with us altogether.

Nowadays I will always try to opt out of a round. I can't afford them and I get drunk very quickly so keeping up with a round means I get pissed and have a two day hangover. It simply isn't worth it.

@Whitesea ? What the ... Hellz No. The Designated Driver is supported to get 'Shouted' by the others. S/he doesn't pay.

@Whitesea I'm an old bat. Perhaps the rules have changed.

I wasn't very clear. She drove herself in. She didn't drive anyone else or give them lifts home.

Ohh ok. That's Different then.