Is it ok just to offer wine, beer and soft drinks when having guests round for a meal?

[snauralaura]

Just that really. We're not big drinkers so we don't have a stock of spirits or "after dinner" type drinks. Would you think we were poor hosts if that was all we offered?

@QuiltPlantCandle My parents were both really wonderful hosts and people always felt very welcome in their house. My mum once told me the secret is not what you provide, but it's about how you make people feel when they visit and I really really think this is true and this thread demonstrates this a lot too i think. It's actually a large part of why I love DH so much as he has a similar attitude and people do seem to like coming to our house.

We went to SIL's the other day and the first hour was just awful as it just felt like even though there was plenty of food and drink available, no one really wanted to be there or wanted us there (we had been invited - it was a family celebration). I really noticed it in the way that when we arrived, BIL was there and he just stayed sitting down. It was only when I came into the room and right up to him that he made any effort to get up and greet us. Admittedly, he's SIL and DH's brother so wasn't the host, but it really contributed to an unpleasant vibe that me and DH and then subsequently neice and nephew had to work hard to overcome.

Quoting myself as I meant soft drinks, not spirits. And by soft drinks, I mean San Pellegrino.

It's perfectly fine 😊

We entertain a lot, and very rarely offer anything other than wine, beer and water. Unless it's Pimms-season.

They get soft drinks or tea/coffee at mine 😆,so I’m sure that will be fine.

Me toi, perhaps cans of premix.

How many guests are you expecting op, I agree with a bottle of fizz to welcome people, and I would check out their wine preference, I always think a good Merlot is a good all rounder for red wine drinkers but have found white wine drinkers are more fussy. I would be interested to hear others views on this.

Of course its ok. I offerl tea and coffee.! My guests however do keep coming back!

It's what I would offer more or less. Seems fine.

When we do socialize at someone's house it's almost always in our neighborhood so driving isn't an issue.

Same here. My non drinking friend likes an alcohol free gin and tonic. I drink it as well so I always have it in the house.

With dinner?

I think is totally fine OP. If it’s Xmas or someone’s day, I might also get Prosecco but i never have vodka etc in the house.
if you were hosting a bigger gathering/party like nye, I’d say yes though

I’ve never been offered anything else!

It's your home. If you don't drink then it's more than acceptable to offer what you want. Visitors will most likely turn up with a bottle of their favourite beer or wine so don't go overboard when shopping.
Dinner visitors to our house get offered tea, coffee, fruit tea or a glass of whichever soft drink I have in at the time.

Over the course of nearly seven hours (the time frame is quite relevant imo) I had no more than 3 glasses of white wine (probably less, tbh…), about one and a half G&Ts (I decided I’d had enough and didn’t finish the second), and just a little ice wine. And of course water as well.

I felt absolutely fine the next day, just a little tired.

The others (and especially the men) had a bit more, but I’m not much of a drinker compared to the rest of my lot 🤷‍♀️

It depends on your guests. If you know that perhaps one only drinks, say gin or whiskey, then I'd definitely have it in the house.

Absolutely agree! The way you make guests feel is far more important than what you serve them.

I'm more of a white wine drinker and I think you might be right because although I love chardonnay I can't stand pinot grigio! I will drink any red wine if that's what we're drinking.
(The bottle of fizz makes me nervous though. I really don't like prosecco and would rather just have a glass of wine - although I will have a glass as a toast if everyone else is. Give me champagne and I'm a happy girl!)

I can't wait when you update on your first try of the Graham Beck I suggessted then! It's on Waitrose at a discount to £13.50 at the moment..... [adds to her birthday trolley]

ETA: Oooh, £12.50 at Majestic.....

I don't think I've ever had South African sparkling wine, but if it's made in the champagne style I'll be willing to give it a go! I'm not in the UK, but may be able to fine it where I live.

Sounds fine to me

Aaah, I don' tknow. you might have to look. Graham Beck is made in the Cap Classique style (like champagne), yes. There are a few brands that do a good champagn style but not sure what's available where or how much. I used to buy Graham Beck in SA and was thrilled when it started being available in Waitrose.

I have just asked DH, who is a wine enthusiast, about Graham Beck wine, and he says it is a really classy wine.

You'd be my friend for life if you also had non-alcoholic wine. My husband can't drive so I'm always the one being offered sparkling water or diet coke. Our best friend always buys really amazing non-alcoholic wines so I can feel like an adult! It's also handy for people who don't want more than a couple of glasses of regular wine.

Thats normal