British Drinking Etiquette Question

You don't have to wait to be asked, do you? Just tell him you don't want the drink. He's a friend, right? So why do you have to stand on ceremony?? I kind of don't understand the problem here.

I pretty much agree.  Remember the wise words of Mae West; "It's not what ya say, it's how ya say it!".  So just keep your tone of voice jokey and pleasant with the emphasis on the "no" but in a nice way, and let him buy you a soft drink, sparkling water or juice. He shouldn't be hurt or offended, but if for some strange reason he is, you've done your best.

I know all you people are rich in the UK (don't throw anything at me cause I damage easy) but I was wondering...if you were in a group of say 6 people at the pub and you bought a round, how much would you expect to pay?

I think a round would assume to be beer for most occasions.

About £21 for 6 people I suppose. That's for a cider or a glass of wine at my local pub with each drink being 3.50. It will be much more if you're buying mixed drinks.

Depends on the place, with that said. Round mine I'd expect drinks to hover around £4 each.

if you were in a group of say 6 people at the pub and you bought a round, how much would you expect to pay?

I think a round would assume to be beer for most occasions.

guest ales are £2.90 in my local.

One reason why I don't like the "rounds" system is that, unless you make an effort to avoid it, you usually end up having (and paying for!) as many drinks as there are people. It may very well suit a bunch of like minded people who are in agreement about consumption and expenditure, but if you have a weak wallet, bladder, or head or just don't like binge drinking you can feel alienated and awkward.

One reason why I don't like the "rounds" system is that, unless you make an effort to avoid it, you usually end up having (and paying for!) as many drinks as there are people. It may very well suit a bunch of like minded people who are in agreement about consumption and expenditure, but if you have a weak wallet, bladder, or head or just don't like binge drinking you can feel alienated and awkward.

Remember in the Westerns where they would say "The drinks are on the house, boys"

Now we would say " you can buy your own Pepsi if you want one!"

Yeah. And the fight would continue due to no-one buying the needed Milky Bars

Yeah. And the fight would continue due to no-one buying the needed Milky Bars

My English cousin was a Milky Bar Night Rider. That dates him, huh? He still has the luminous badge, although it doesn't glow in the dark any more.

That's the problem though. He buys me another drink even before I've finished the first one, so I've got two drinks sitting in front of me, or buys me a drink even before I've showed up at the pub.

I don't have the opportunity to say no because I'm not asked.

The guy is a sweetheart and I agree with Tremula that it is misplaced generosity which is why I want to handle this in a good way.

DH and friends are big guys (at least twice my size) and they can drink loads and it doesn't seem to affect them at all.

When we get together with their wives and girlfriends, the wives/girlfriends often get pissed and behave like morons.

I agree that the British don't seem to understand the American concept of moderate drinking - you either teetotal or you drink as much as you possibly can.

If this happened to me, I'd thank the guy but tell him I'm not up for having any more and hand the drink over to hubby. Hubby certainly wouldn't mind.

Or you could just do what I'm doing now and get pregnant! Everyone includes a soft drink for me but I'm never expected to get a round for everyone else because I'm not on the alcohol. It's pretty nice.

My English cousin was a Milky Bar Night Rider. That dates him, huh? He still has the luminous badge, although it doesn't glow in the dark any more.

What's a Milky Bar Night Rider?

I'm afraid that went over my head. Probably dates me, but in the opposite direction... It'll be useful to know though for any dated sitcoms I watch.

What's a Milky Bar Night Rider?

Round about 1961 in Britain Nestlé ran a promotion where you saved up so many Milky Bar wrappers and sent them with a stamp and a small sum of money and in return you were enrolled in a kind of club called the "Milky Bar Night Riders". You got a "certificate" and a little comic book and a little blue and white round badge. The white parts of the design glowed in the dark for a week or two. He was aged 9 at this time.

He tells me he was a "Man From U.N.C.L.E special agent" later on from chewing gum wrappers.

The binge drinking makes me uncomfortable, no one ever wants to simply go out for a nice meal... always has to be to a drinking facility... even work do's....

The binge drinking makes me uncomfortable, no one ever wants to simply go out for a nice meal... always has to be to a drinking facility... even work do's....

Must be an age thing because I go out for meals and a drink all the time.  I never just go out drinking.

The binge drinking makes me uncomfortable

Out of curiosity, what level of drinking do you classify as 'binge' drinking?