# Just found out Saturday's B&B is alcohol free; what would \*you\* do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 11, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183 "2009-11-11T14:46:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/101 "2009-11-12T22:00:50Z")
> [@bup](#): > > I’m going to open a B&B that requires guests to drink alcohol and smoke, but not announce it on the website. That would be an AWESOME surprise for me. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/102 "2009-11-12T22:32:21Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > In other words, you don’t give a shit about other people’s rules in other people’s houses. Don’t pretend this is some affront to your selfish entitlements, you just like to whine. > > Nobody I know is an alcoholic, and nobody I know has been affected negatively by alcohol. My problem with alcohol is that people equate it with a good time and get rabidly defensive of it whenever you suggest that the situation doesn’t have to have alcohol. So if you want to consider that a personal problem, go right ahead. Your defensiveness simply reinforces my opinion on people who drink, of which I am not a part of. > > One does not have to get stupidly drunk to have a dependency on it. That the OP considered canceling or sneaking alcohol into an establishment that prohibits is tells me her problem is more than “just a drink”. If it really wasn’t a big deal, then just bring apple cider or a sprite. Yet all I’m seeing is excuses amounting to how they can stop anytime, they just dont want to. That’s something addicts say > > Replace “bring alcohol” with “purposefully violate the rules of the place because you can’t think about getting through one night without a drink” > > I’m judging harshly because people cannot seem to fathom that you do not need alcohol in every fucking social situation. I’ve been to 3 weddings in the past year and I toasted with that apple cider thing everytime. I simply don’t need alcohol, a depressant, to have a good time. The myopia of people defending it bothers me since they are so unable to see their own problem. > > That is not remotely comparable. The OP is going to a place of business where the rules state that alcohol is forbidden. Upon learning that, instead of just canceling or accepting it, she is expressly asking for people’s opinion whether she should sneak alcohol in despite the rules. Having a celebration or vacation does not entitle one to set their own boundaries in someone else’s business. Would you feel it ok to barge into a restaurant and take food for free? People do go to restaurants and get substitutes if the restaurant doesn’t have what they want. If you went to a steakhouse and asked for a dish they don’t have, do you expect them to run out and buy it for you from a place that does serve it? The only proper response to this dilemma is to cancel the reservation or go without the booze. Wow. I would ask where the hell all _that_ came from, but hey, I _did_ ask for opinions. You’ve stated yours, quite loudly and clearly. For the benefit of all of you who are waiting with baited (bated? Never really sure about that expression, sorry; must be all the booze clouding my brain. . .:rolleyes: ) about what we’ve done: I called the inn keeper. I explained to her that we have traditionally toasted with champagne on our anniversary, as we did at our wedding, and in fact, traditionally use the same set of champagne flutes we used for our wedding, and asked if we could pretty please bring at least a _split_ of champagne, at least, so we could keep with tradition. I added that I wouldn’t be asking if their policy had been made clear on their website, as I would have booked somewhere else. She agreed. I must have sounded reasonable. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/103 "2009-11-12T22:50:08Z")
> [@Haunted](#): > > The OP asked what I would do. So I wrote down what I would do. I don’t recall anybody asking what you think about what other people would do. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize it was wrong of me to comment on another person’s post on a message board. Or calling out what I see as a complete lie masked as civil rights indignation. I guess I misunderstand what the function of a message board is :dubious: > [@Haunted](#): > > And I do care about other people rules in other people’s houses. But if I’m renting a room at an inn for the night and what I want to do isn’t hurting anybody, fuck it. It’s not like I’m crashing on a friend’s couch and getting shitfaced in front of their toddler. I also pointed out that I wouldn’t smoke, so it’s not like I’m planning to break every rule that the innkeepers have laid down. Translation: “If I’m renting a room I have the right to do anything I please” How about this? If it were you, you tell the owners you plan on taking in booze anyway and see if they don’t kick you out. If you’re going to act tough and bring in booze without their permission and think that’s ok, then give them a chance to kick your ass out first > [@Haunted](#): > > P.S. You might want to reread your own lengthy post before you go around calling other people whiners. You being a whiner is not mutually exclusive with me being a whiner. The difference is that I can acknowlege it while you try to deny and justify it at the same time > [@myskepticsight](#): > > People drink because it tastes good and they find drinking fun. Never said I’m against that. I am simply against the OP’s and other people’s attitude that their drinking trumps an establishment’s rules. Once she started to consider sneaking in booze when she knew the rules, she was in the wrong > [@myskepticsight](#): > > And come on, this “social situation” is an anniversary. Not “oh it’s been 4.652 years since I bought my favorite pair of pants, let’s get wasted in honor of that!” An anniversary that would apparently be ruined with no booze, making the focus on the alcohol and not the occasion. > [@myskepticsight](#): > > I like drinking. I don’t do it to the point where I can feel it all that often, but even if I did, I don’t have to defend that to you. You come in this thread looking down on everyone who agrees with the OP that it’s fine to have a yearly tradition that involves a glass of alcohol. And that breaking the rules won’t really harm anyone. You’ve never broken a rule? No, I look down on people who think the OP should ignore the business’s rules and sneak in booze when it is expressly prohibited. You want to get shitfaced drunk and stumble around in your house in your underwear for your anniversary? Fine, but don’t do it someplace that doesn’t want your kind there. I’ve broken plenty of rules and you know what? I deserve whatever punishment I get if I knew beforehand that that was going to be the consequence. If the business says don’t bring alcohol and I do, then if I get kicked out in the middle of the night, I deserve it. I’m certainly not going to sit here and try to justify my behavior when it was known beforehand what the consequences are going to be. Nor would I try to justify it by pretending its fine if I don’t get caught. > [@myskepticsight](#): > > I really don’t believe you don’t have any deeper alcohol-related issues. I know plenty of simple “non drinkers” and they never, ever act holier than thou the way you are. You’d have to tell me what kind of issues you’re fishing for because I really have not had much bad experiences with alcohol. I’m acting holier than thou because of what I consider the inane justification of a booze-drunk culture. In other words, it not the booze that bugs me, its the people > [@myskepticsight](#): > > And I am only bothering to argue with you because your first post just really rubbed me the wrong way, and normally I wouldn’t bother to reply but I’ve been bored. Why is that? Because I said “disturbed”? If I had simply said I was just puzzled, would you have felt the same way? > [@jali](#): > > Really annoying lecture: You don’t do it so no one should. Accurate only if you’re referring not to my stance on drinking, but my stance on people’s arbitrary breaking of harmless rules > [@norinew](#): > > Wow. I would ask where the hell all _that_ came from, but hey, I _did_ ask for opinions. You’ve stated yours, quite loudly and clearly. > > For the benefit of all of you who are waiting with baited (bated? Never really sure about that expression, sorry; must be all the booze clouding my brain. . .:rolleyes: ) about what we’ve done: I called the inn keeper. I explained to her that we have traditionally toasted with champagne on our anniversary, as we did at our wedding, and in fact, traditionally use the same set of champagne flutes we used for our wedding, and asked if we could pretty please bring at least a _split_ of champagne, at least, so we could keep with tradition. I added that I wouldn’t be asking if their policy had been made clear on their website, as I would have booked somewhere else. She agreed. I must have sounded reasonable. Must have. I have no issues with what you did and am glad you didn’t decide to sneak it in. People can be reasonable if they are faced with reason ---
**Author:** ![Haunted](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/898d66/32.png) [@Haunted](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haunted)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/104 "2009-11-12T23:08:56Z")
Wow, **YogSosoth**. I really have no idea why your undies are in such a twist but I think you’re way out of line. I know misery loves company but you’re not going to find it with this chick. Have a nice day. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/105 "2009-11-13T00:17:59Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > That is not remotely comparable. The OP is going to a place of business where the rules state that alcohol is forbidden. The main point of the thread is that the B&B did NOT state this on their website and it was only by accident that the op found out. Maybe you’re not familiar with B&B’s but I’ve never heard of one that didn’t cater to wine drinkers. That they don’t post this on their website indicates they know full well how big a deal it is and would drive away business. > [@YogSosoth](#): > > An anniversary that would apparently be ruined with no booze, making the focus on the alcohol and not the occasion. You’ve repeated this theme in what can only be taken as either condescension or a general lack of knowing how people consume wine socially. For people who like wine it is an integral part of a good meal. The selection of the wine is often the centerpiece of that meal. The op has explained that her anniversary tradition includes a bottle of Champaign. Apple cider is to Champaign as a Hostess King don is to chocolate mousse. These are adults, not children. > [@YogSosoth](#): > > I’m judging harshly because people cannot seem to fathom that you do not need alcohol in every fucking social situation. I’ve been to 3 weddings in the past year and I toasted with that apple cider thing everytime. I simply don’t need alcohol, a depressant, to have a good time. The myopia of people defending it bothers me since they are so unable to see their own problem. WOW, that is over the top and completely uncalled for. It sounds like you have some alcohol issues that should be saved for another thread. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/106 "2009-11-13T00:54:41Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > One does not have to get stupidly drunk to have a dependency on it. That the OP considered canceling or sneaking alcohol into an establishment that prohibits is tells me her problem is more than “just a drink”. If I consider canceling a reservation at a B&B because I prefer king sized beds, and they don’t have king sized beds, should I call a rehab clinic? > [@](#): > > Yet all I’m seeing is excuses amounting to how they can stop anytime, they just dont want to. That’s something addicts say You know who else says that? People who aren’t alcoholics. > [@](#): > > Replace “bring alcohol” with “purposefully violate the rules of the place because you can’t think about getting through one night without a drink” Replace that part of your argument with one gigantic straw figure. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/107 "2009-11-13T01:04:17Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > The op has explained that her anniversary tradition includes a bottle of Champaign. Apple cider is to Champaign as a Hostess King don is to chocolate mousse. These are adults, not children. > > WOW, that is over the top and completely uncalled for. It sounds like you have some alcohol issues that should be saved for another thread. Seriously. What if I like to celebrate my anniversary every year with a slice of flourless chocolate cake? Is _that_ a sign of some sort of addiction issue? Can’t I just happen to like flourless chocolate cake? Same goes for a champagne toast. I’m probably the lightest drinker by far out of my circle of friends, and have celebrated plenty of occasions (and gone to plenty of bars, for that matter) without consuming alcohol. I have no compunction about going to a bar to see a band, for example, and ordering nothing more potent than ginger ale. But I’m a grown woman, and if I feel like having a glass of wine once in a while on a special occasion (and it’s rarely more than one, two max, and I frequently go months without being interested in having a drink), I should be able to do so without anyone viewing it as some sort of symptom of a deep-seated alcohol problem. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/108 "2009-11-13T01:14:52Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > An anniversary that would apparently be ruined with no booze, making the focus on the alcohol and not the occasion. The OP did not say ruined, not did anyone else that I can recall. You are the one making the focus on the alcohol. Let’s forget for a moment that the particular treat that the OP likes is alcohol. You have something to eat/drink/do that you really like. It makes an event more enjoyable. It has become a tradition that you eat/drink/do this on your anniversary. It enhances your anniversary experience. Little traditions between spouses are one of those things that makes a relationship special and events more memorable. Now are you saying that such a tradition is fine if it involves, say, eating Turskish Delight, but if it involves an alcoholic drink suddenly becomes eevil? It is you who turns this into a big deal because the OP’s special treat happens to be an alcoholic drink. You are the one with a problem, not the OP. ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/109 "2009-11-13T01:28:22Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > Thanks for all the input! > With the fall foliage on view, it would probably be difficult to find another place we like as well, so we probably will go with the idea of drinks/toasting before dinner, non-alcoholic drinks with dinner (plenty of time to be fine to drive), then maybe a bottle of sparkling cider in the room. 🙂 Don’t forget to explain in detail the way you were treated on [yelp.com](http://yelp.com). ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/110 "2009-11-13T01:54:13Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Replace “bring alcohol” with “purposefully violate the rules of the place because you can’t think about getting through one night without a drink” > > I’m judging harshly because people cannot seem to fathom that you do not need alcohol in every fucking social situation. I’ve been to 3 weddings in the past year and I toasted with that apple cider thing everytime. I simply don’t need alcohol, a depressant, to have a good time. The myopia of people defending it bothers me since they are so unable to see their own problem. It is their anniversary, there is no reason to bring up anything like this, it’s a once a year event, and for such a occasion they may be looking forward to having a drink together (which they are), it’s enjoyable and relaxing. It is obvious you have anger over something and it’s coming out against this couple, but please don’t impose your burden of anger against them. This really is not such a event to bring such stuff up. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/111 "2009-11-13T02:18:02Z")
> [@not\_alice](#): > > Don’t forget to explain in detail the way you were treated on [yelp.com](http://yelp.com). Well, I don’t know how many other celebratory couples will be looking to stay in Buckhannon, WV (though, I suppose enough do to keep several B&B’s in business, so you never know. . .), but thank you for pointing me towards this website! **Kanicbird** , **amarone** , **eva luna** and company, save your breath. One particular poster has made his (her?) feelings clear. If I had posted in MPSIMS saying “I booked a room at XXXXX, but then canceled, because I found out they are an alcohol-free establishment, and I _need_ alcohol to have a good time”, said poster would have said “See??? You admitted it! You _need_ alcohol to have a good time! Clearly you have a problem!” But since I posted in IMHO and said “I _don’t_ need alcohol to have a good time, but this is our tradition”, said poster has chosen to interpret that as “Well, that’s exactly what someone with an alcohol problem _would_ say!” I don’t think there’s anything anyone could say at this point that would change this particular poster’s POV. For all of you who had _constructive_ input, though, thank you. I plan on having a very pleasant weekend with my hubby. As the manager of fifteen rental units, it is _rare_ to get a “day off”, and I am looking forward to it! ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/112 "2009-11-13T05:24:10Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > In other words, you don’t give a shit about other people’s rules in other people’s houses. Don’t pretend this is some affront to your selfish entitlements, you just like to whine. > > Nobody I know is an alcoholic, and nobody I know has been affected negatively by alcohol. My problem with alcohol is that people equate it with a good time and get rabidly defensive of it whenever you suggest that the situation doesn’t have to have alcohol. So if you want to consider that a personal problem, go right ahead. Your defensiveness simply reinforces my opinion on people who drink, of which I am not a part of. > > One does not have to get stupidly drunk to have a dependency on it. That the OP considered canceling or sneaking alcohol into an establishment that prohibits is tells me her problem is more than “just a drink”. If it really wasn’t a big deal, then just bring apple cider or a sprite. Yet all I’m seeing is excuses amounting to how they can stop anytime, they just dont want to. That’s something addicts say > > Replace “bring alcohol” with “purposefully violate the rules of the place because you can’t think about getting through one night without a drink” > > I’m judging harshly because people cannot seem to fathom that you do not need alcohol in every fucking social situation. I’ve been to 3 weddings in the past year and I toasted with that apple cider thing everytime. I simply don’t need alcohol, a depressant, to have a good time. The myopia of people defending it bothers me since they are so unable to see their own problem. > > That is not remotely comparable. The OP is going to a place of business where the rules state that alcohol is forbidden. Upon learning that, instead of just canceling or accepting it, she is expressly asking for people’s opinion whether she should sneak alcohol in despite the rules. Having a celebration or vacation does not entitle one to set their own boundaries in someone else’s business. Would you feel it ok to barge into a restaurant and take food for free? People do go to restaurants and get substitutes if the restaurant doesn’t have what they want. If you went to a steakhouse and asked for a dish they don’t have, do you expect them to run out and buy it for you from a place that does serve it? The only proper response to this dilemma is to cancel the reservation or go without the booze. OR to put it another way - what if the B and B told you that sex was forbidden unless your WIFE was ovulating? What would your reaction be to that? I am sure you are not a “sex addict” right? But that you enjoy the horizontal mambo on your anniversary - would you acceede to the request in this instance? ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/113 "2009-11-13T05:42:14Z")
I think the question really is, “Is it the lack of notice or are you really using that as just an excuse?” Suppose you ate dinner at the B&B and they said “We’re Jewish we don’t serve milk and meat together.” Now certainly there are people that would feel just as decieved by that rule as the no-alcohol rule, but certainly there are others who’d convince themselves it’s the deception when it’s the alcohol. This leads them to question, “Do I have a problem with alcohol, if I can’t go without it?” For example if someone said “I’m sorry we’re Jewish, you can’t have milk and meat at the table,” would you say “OK, and just forget it.” But if they said “Sorry no alcohol,” would you then be mad? If you would, there may be an issue. Of course you can’t debate it. As for the OP they could simply go to a resturant / bar and toast the day, then return. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/114 "2009-11-13T05:48:42Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > For example if someone said “I’m sorry we’re Jewish, you can’t have milk and meat at the table,” would you say “OK, and just forget it.” But if they said “Sorry no alcohol,” would you then be mad? If I knew when I booked that the place was kosher (even if I didn’t know this was a kosher requirement) then what can I say? If it was only announced as I was sitting down to dinner I would be rather bugged and angry but would try not to let it be an issue (after all - I won’t die from lack of milk, and it would be silly to let it spoil my day). I would feel that people were trying to impose on me - which would bug me more than anything else ---
**Author:** ![Recliner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a88e57/32.png) [@Recliner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Recliner)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/115 "2009-11-13T07:05:19Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > I’d cancel. That’s just weird; you should be able to toast your anniversary if you want to! > > Plus, if they do have policies like that, it should be stated on their website, and mentioned before you book. When we’re out of town, one of the things we always want to do is try out wine that may not be available where we live; it’s extremely common to bring a bottle back to the B&B and have a tasting in the evening. I’d be incredibly pissed if I checked into a place and was only told at that point that they didn’t want alcohol there. This is absolutely the bottom line – its a very unusual policy to have, so not mentioning it up-front is just bad business. Its quite likely that they don’t mention it because they don’t want to have people bypass them…but then, what do they do when people show up with booze? I’m not exactly a frequenter of B&Bs, but from my impressions I take it they’re very commonly places people would do an anniversary at…which might commonly include a bottle of wine, etc. Weird. Since this may be a religious belief, I’d probably not bother sneaking it in, _but_ I would **ask them explicitly why they don’t state this on the website**. Because they’ve wasted your time, and put you in an awkward situation. Methinks they may not have thought this through. ---
**Author:** ![Recliner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a88e57/32.png) [@Recliner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Recliner)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/116 "2009-11-13T07:07:09Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > #2 > > The seemingly constant human need for alcohol is both puzzling and disturbing to me. The tradition is a toast right? Just use a different drink, it’s not a big deal Puzzling to you, perhaps, but as you say – it seems to suit quite a lot of people. This is a weird policy, and its irritating (by proxy, heh) that they didn’t state it up-front. ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/117 "2009-11-13T16:43:12Z")
I would either cancel (and explain why), or don’t bring alcohol. I would not sneak it in. I don’t understand the western need for alcohol (esp among many younger Brits who seem to have a goal of getting smashed)… but then I live in a part of the world where alcohol is the exception rather than the rule. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/118 "2009-11-13T17:49:16Z")
Well, you _are_ in West Virginia. People who don’t drink are pretty damn thick on the ground round these here parts, so it frankly wouldn’t surprise me at all to find out a B&B was owned by teetotalers who don’t want someone drinking an unknown amount of hard liquor in the house. And when you have someone calling about mixers to go with their bottle of vodka, that’s pretty much what you’re talking about, so I totally understand someone telling you to leave that at the house. The fact that she’s okay with you guys having a single anniversary toast indicates to me that the unknown amount of hard liquor was the major sticking point. As for me, it would never have occurred to me to call ahead and ask about ice and mixers. We would have simply asked about ice and soda when we checked in, and if they weren’t provided we would have picked some up on the way back from dinner. I mean, by the time you’ve stayed in a B&B and had a nice dinner, what’s another $5 for a bag of ice and some Diet Coke? But if we had called ahead and found out alcohol was verboten, I would have explained then that it was our anniversary and we had planned to have a toast and asked if there was perhaps something we could work out. If there wasn’t, we would have taken our champagne flutes to the restaurant and asked for our toast to be served in them. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/119 "2009-11-13T18:45:51Z")
> [@badbadrubberpiggy](#): > > Personally, if I have a bottle of vodka it’ll last months unless I have a party or something, vodka alone doesn’t indicate they’re planning to get sloshed. Yer drinkin’ yer vodka wrong. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/120 "2009-11-13T18:48:07Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I think the question really is, “Is it the lack of notice or are you really using that as just an excuse?” > > Suppose you ate dinner at the B&B and they said “We’re Jewish we don’t serve milk and meat together.”… > For example if someone said “I’m sorry we’re Jewish, you can’t have milk and meat at the table,” would you say “OK, and just forget it.” But if they said “Sorry no alcohol,” would you then be mad? I think a much better analogy would be more along the lines of, “we’re vegetarian. You can’t have any meat in our house.” Or, “we’re diabetic. No dessert or sweets of any kind.” I’d be mad about finding out about those after making the reservation. Not having meat and milk \*together \*is just not as big a deal. Doesn’t mean somebody’s alcoholic that they’re miffed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183.md?page=7)