To be annoyed about this attempt at splitting the bill

[SpottyPotties]

We went out for a family meal today, which we do maybe 6/7 times a year. Myself, DH and DS (18), DB1, DPs and DB2, SIL and their DC (10 & 15).

When the DC were younger and eating kids meals, we used to split the bill per adult. Everyone has always been more than happy splitting a £6.99 kids meal amongst the adults.

As the DCs are getting older, we have started to split per person, based on who has had an adult meal. As our DC are the eldest, we have led this.

Today, my niece and nephew both had adult meals, a few drinks each and hot chocolates after. DS had a poke bowl which cost less than everyone else’s and a jug of water (his choice - he’s in to the gym and nutrition).

The bill came and DB picked it up and declared we were splitting per adult, so counting my DS as an adult, and not including his DC. I was more than happy to split per person, even though ours would have cost less overall, but I wasn’t happy with having to pay more in total than DB who had an extra person to us.

I said that wasn’t really fair and we did eventually end up splitting per person, but he and SIL were obviously annoyed about it, so AIBU in wanting to split per person, rather than per adult?

DB definitely does not have money worries so this isn’t his reasoning. If he was struggling, I’d be more than happy to put a bit extra in to help him out.

There is nothing that infuriates me more than having to split a bill when other people haven’t had a meal/drinks that are a similar cost to everyone else. A couple of quid here and there is no issue, but when it’s a lot it really annoys me. It’s normally the people who it benefits that suggest or push for it to happen. I don’t know why in general people can’t just pay for what they’ve eaten. You want to eat 3 courses and order a bottle of wine, go for it, but don’t expect everyone else to pay to make your meal cheaper.

@Quitelikeit that’s not what she said. Her brother always orders a bottle of wine. Most are around £18+ Up until the kids were eating adult meals they had kids meal which were about £7 each and there were 3 kids eating so the kids meals in total would have been £21 which isn’t far off or maybe even cheaper than the one bottle wine her brother ordered.

They all split the bill evenly because by the time some had had desserts etc it worked out a even split between the adults.

He wasn’t paying for his meal, bottle of wine and then the kids on top.

We were out with a crowd and each family were given a number and one person per family ordered under their number which they showed.
So family 1 got their bill with everything they ordered on it, family 2, 3, 4, 5, likewise.

Made it so easy when one wanted extra this and that and it was just ordered on their bill.
We bought a couple of bottles and put them on those sharing red, white, G & T's.
So easy.

Normally with adult only friends we split.

But with children and teens they can go to town on a menu do its just easier to keep it separate IMO.

That's why you split the bill PER FAMILY. You only pay for what you have.