Why we never go out for drink$$$

[disneysteve]

We went down the shore yesterday to spend time with friends who have a condo there. They took us to a nice deli for lunch. The food was very good. The servings were generous and the bill, including tax and tip, for the 6 of us was $52, very reasonable at less than $9/person.

Later in the day, our one friend said she was in the mood for a frozen margarita. They took us to a local restaurant located at the marina. Very pretty, open air, overlooking the water and boats. Each of the 4 adults got 1 alcoholic beverage. Each of the 2 kids got one non-alcoholic beverage. Between the 6 of us, we ordered 3 personal pizzas and 2 appetizers. Not a full meal by any means. The bill, including tax and tip, came to $130! The food was a bit pricey ($13.95 for the pizzas, though they were big) but the alcohol prices were insane. We could have made a full-course meal for 6 and had pitchers full of drinks and not spent anywhere near that much.

Just a reminder why my wife and I almost never order alcohol in a restaurant.

[cschin4]

When we go out, it is only water. We only order an entree. No drinks, no appetizers, and no desserts. Saves a fortune and allows us to eat out more often.

[cschin4]

And, sometimes, we will split meals. I might split my meal with one of my kids or have them split. I really don't care if the restaurant likes it or not.

[Ima saver]

They don't sell alcohol where I live, but we are allowed to brown bag it. that is why our meals out (for two) are usually under $20!

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by cschin4

When we go out, it is only water. We only order an entree. No drinks, no appetizers, and no desserts. Saves a fortune and allows us to eat out more often.

Originally Posted by cschin4

And, sometimes, we will split meals. I might split my meal with one of my kids or have them split. I really don't care if the restaurant likes it or not.

We do the very same. Even yesterday, my wife and I split one of the "personal" pizzas. It was huge and even between the 2 of us, we didn't finish the whole thing. That would have been just fine, if not for the alcohol costs. We each got a martini. They were $10 each, plus tax and tip made them nearly $13 each.

[Broken Arrow]

And here I thought $1.50 to $2 soda or sweet tea was bad enough. Glad I don't drink.

[kork13]

Originally Posted by Broken Arrow

And here I thought $1.50 to $2 soda or sweet tea was bad enough. Glad I don't drink.

Ditto.

Drinks kill me... Restaurants' biggest profit margins are on them. Syrup and soda water for soft drinks cost them ~$.02 for a standard 16oz drink. So when they charge you $2 for it, they make a handy 10,000% profit. How's that for a good deal, huh? But don't you dare ask for a free refill!!

[disneysteve]

When we get a soda in a restaurant, we usually just get one large one and the 3 of us split it. $2.50 for 3 people isn't quite as bad.

[maat55]

A high price out to eat for alcohol is not a bad thing, it makes those who are cheap, less likely to drive while intoxicated.

[GREENBACK]

Originally Posted by maat55

A high price out to eat for alcohol is not a bad thing, it makes those who are cheap, less likely to drive while intoxicated.

Good point, though, those likely to drive and drink will do it anyway. I usually have water or maybe a beer on tap. I never order a mixed drink. It's an incredible rip off. I wish I knew of anything that creates the profit margin a bottle of liquor in a restaurant/bar does.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by maat55

A high price out to eat for alcohol is not a bad thing, it makes those who are cheap, less likely to drive while intoxicated.

I don't know about that. I think it just makes those who are cheap hang at at cheaper places to drink, like the $2 Bud night at the local watering hole. The folks going out for a fine dining experience aren't usually there to get wasted and stagger home. Different crowd.

[maat55]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

I don't know about that. I think it just makes those who are cheap hang at at cheaper places to drink, like the $2 Bud night at the local watering hole. The folks going out for a fine dining experience aren't usually there to get wasted and stagger home. Different crowd.

As with GREENBACK, I enjoy my draft when I eat out. But, I don't drink enough to chase the cheaper drinks. I'll surely agree that if I needed to curb my spending while eating out, alcohol would be the way to do it. Problem is that DW is not as cheap as I am.

[frito833]

Went to my cousin's wedding serveral months ago at the Marriot. To ease the tension before he walks the isle, he asked me to buy all the groomsmen and friends Jager shots. I was thinking $6 per shot but it was actually double that. Bill came up to $144 and not including the tip which I tipped $10. Bartender gave me the "is that it" look. Throughout the whole night, I was calculating how much Jager I can buy at the local ABC for $154 and came up with 80 shots.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

We never used to drink out and then when we began earning real money my DH began to drink out. I decided it's not worth the fight, but typically I still don't because paying $10 for a mixed drink is irritating. My DH gets a beer typically.

At the airport while waiting my DH got a beer for $8 with dinner, cost the same as our entree, but at least he relaxed a bit more.

What irritates me more is frito's point of tipping the bartender. Hello? A $1 for opening a beer bottle? It's getting out of hand.

[boosami]

Some of you have seen some of my bills for this type of thing on other threads. That should be enough to discourage anyone from going and having a "fun night out" at the club!

But really, in my opinion food is as bad as beverages. Salad is a prime example: Pay $13 for a salad at a restaurant that you can make for $3.00 at home. Breakfast/brunch is the worst, though... Pancakes and eggs are dirt cheap but many places charge outrageous prices for literally something you can make at home with little effort and cost.

Don't forget the tax and tip!

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by boosami

Some of you have seen some of my bills for this type of thing on other threads. That should be enough to discourage anyone from going and having a "fun night out" at the club!

But really, in my opinion food is as bad as beverages. Salad is a prime example: Pay $13 for a salad at a restaurant that you can make for $3.00 at home. Breakfast/brunch is the worst, though... Pancakes and eggs are dirt cheap but many places charge outrageous prices for literally something you can make at home with little effort and cost.

Don't forget the tax and tip!

I agree to a point, but at least preparing food involves some work. There is also risk to the owner that he will buy more than he can serve before it spoils, so that needs to be priced into the food. No work is involved in serving a draft beer or opening a bottle and pouring it in a glass (if that). A mixed drink involves a bit of work, but if you ever watch a pro bartender, he'll mix most drinks in under a minute.

I totally agree about breakfast. We almost never go out for breakfast, even when we are on vacation. We get cereal, milk and juice and eat in our room.

[charley_alford]

The kids get a soda or lemonade, but those seem reasonable since they come with free refills. But we never drink alcohol at a restaurant; very expensive and completely unnecessary since my husband makes a mean martini at home.

[tan fish]

Alcohol costs at restaurants are indeed outrageous. What messed me up a few weeks ago was when my Dad and I went out for dinner at a Wipeout Restaurant and Bar in Marin County in the bay area. Thinking that this was more a "bar" then a restaurant, I ordered a soda water for my drink thinking it would be free or very cheap (sort of like in a bar where soda water is complimentary). Wrong! $2.50 just for a glass of fizzy water. Ugh.

[DebbieL]

DH and I don't drink (DH is an alcoholic - and I'm just kind of being supportive), but even back in my younger days I knew that if I wanted to drink it made more sense (financially) to do it at home (or a friend's place). Booze out is very expensive. When I went to the bars, I'd just go to hear the live bands. I'd very rarely have more than 1 or 2 beers over the night.

[Scanner]

You just aren't hitting hte right places, DisneySteve.

When I was lifeguarding in Wildwood, NJ, there was a bar you could hit every night of the week and get drunk for less than $20.00. $1.00 pitchers of beer on Monday nights at the Fairview, $1.00 draughts on Tuesday at Kelly's, and so on. . .stick with me, DisneySteve. . .you are just an amateur with no real drinking experience under your belt, that's all