Cutting out Champagne to economise?

[Minuet2023]

Went out with a small group for lunch, to a nice hotel. Meal was a set price, drinks extra. One lady declined to order a glass of champage and had a small coke instead, because she was economising, to pay for a flight upgrade on an expensive holiday abroad next year.

Is this unreasonable?

Why on earth would this be unreasonable?

Sounds sensible to me!

DH and I cut back on drinking a year ago and saved nearly £4 k in a year.

I’m surprised a group of friends require a reason for turning down alcohol.

Whatever her reasoning, yep, it’s acceptable to choose cola or water.

Personally I’d just let them have what they want & enjoy the time together.

Why even ask.

People can do what they want in life.

Well it is her preferance, why do you ask?

why Would it be unreasonable? It’s up to individuals what they choose to drink - for whatever reason they choose

Is this unreasonable?

Her, no.

Anyone who cared, yes.

Why would it be unreasonable?

A bit of advice- never question why someone isn’t drinking. That may well not be the real reason at all. And whatever the reason, it’s never unreasonable to decline alcohol.

This is a reverse, surely. Of course YANBU.

True. As someone who has been an overenthusiastic drinker in the past and is now trying to quit for good I applaud the woman. I spend so much time trying to think of excuses to avoid questioning and/or defensiveness that others demonstrate- mainly I am the designated driver or on antibiotics. Plain old 'I want to save money' is my go to for the future.

(Not to say the woman in question either is a problem drinker OR needs an excuse).

She can do what she wants, her money her rules. Is this a reverse?

No, you can drink what you like. Pay no attention to what the others were saying.

Were you hoping to do set price menu & all on champagne, so the champagne cost could be split equally too - and so her having a coke, and then presumably paying for her set menu & soft drink, meant the bill couldn't be split like that and you paid "more?"

That's the only way that I can imagine this effects you at all.

It's still unreasonable, though. She came to the lunch, and she was entitled to have a soft drink for any reason, and to request to just pay for what she had. She's prioritising.

I don’t want to drink alcohol anymore. The social pressure is the most difficult part of abstaining for me- I can feel I’m being judged. People are suspicious of you.

Definitely not unreasonable OP. Were you made to feel like you were being unreasonable when you ordered cola?

Why on earth do you care?

It is unreasonable for someone to be questioning her reasons for not drinking champagne. It’s her choice

If the hotel served coke then of course it's not unreasonable! Who is saying it is?

Is it reasonable to spend less on something so you can spend more on something else?

Yes, yes it is.

Money is tight last night so when i went out for a friends birthday meal laat night i drunk water and drove. The alcohol was taken off the bill and the remainder split between the group. I paid £20 for my meal which was £15. Fine as im happy to contribute to a tip but not to other peoples alcohol as i just cant afford it. The drinkers paid £40 so big difference.

This!

Is this a reverse?

Of course it’s not unreasonable. Champers is a lot more expensive than coke. Assume you’re annoyed as meant you couldn’t just split the bill and had to sit there working out costs with phone calculator?

This has got to be a reverse. If it’s not, then you are the unreasonable one for being worried about what beverage other people order with lunch.