# 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:** 14\ **Page:** 7
**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, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/121 "2009-11-13T19:51:24Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Not having meat and milk \*together \*is just not as big a deal. Doesn’t mean somebody’s alcoholic that they’re miffed. Well, it’s not that big a deal _to you._ Other people would think not being able to have a pat of butter or a little cheese or a yogurt sauce or a dollop of sour cream or some ranch dressing with their meal was a much bigger deal than not having an alcoholic beverage. If someone like that were thinking about canceling a reservation over not being able to have milk and meat together absent any other issues, you’d think that was…weird, right? Maybe overly fixated on the whole dairy issue? That’s how people with different priorities from you look at people who would cancel a reservation over the hotel being dry. That being said, there’s a line between thinking something is weird and overly fixated and accusing someone of being an addict–automatically jumping to the latter when someone says the former comes across as being a little over-defensive, and I can see how it would make someone think the lady doth protest too much when that happens. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/122 "2009-11-13T21:33:55Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > 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. I think the main point is that more than one person, and the OP, considered sneaking prohibited items into the B&B when they found out about it. > [@Magiver](#): > > 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. That’s irrelevent. Social situations usually encourage drinking. We are talking about a place that does not. > [@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. Then she could either do what she eventually did or cancel the reservation > [@Magiver](#): > > 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. It’s over the top because I used apple cider? > [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > 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? That depends. Are you sneaking in a king sized bed? If you considered that, I would say you have a problem > [@amarone](#): > > The OP did not say ruined, not did anyone else that I can recall. You are the one making the focus on the alcohol. I am not the one who asked “Should I sneak it in anyway even when its prohibited?” > [@amarone](#): > > 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? Turkish Delights are not addictive. They can be habit-forming, but as far as I know, nothing inside them contains an addictive chemical. Plus, eat too many in one sitting and you just get a stomachache. You don’t become dizzy and black out > [@kanicbird](#): > > 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. That would be fine if I were the one who brought it up. However, I wasn’t the one considering sneaking booze into a place that forbids it because to do so otherwise would somehow impair the evening Yes, it is obvious I have some anger over this issue but the burden was not mine to place. Maybe she should not be considering sneaking stuff in next time? > [@bengangmo](#): > > 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? I would cancel the reservation. > [@Recliner](#): > > 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. That’s fine. I would find it strange too, and be a little annoyed. But I would have either canceled or gone without. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/123 "2009-11-13T21:40:13Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > IMHO go for it then, even enjoy that little bit of ‘naughtiness’ that one may feel if that is enjoyable… > > While you may not be that age anymore, no reason why you can’t use this scenario to heighten the experience, it may make you both feel younger. I like this suggestion quite a bit! > [@](#): > > Happy Anniversary and God bless both of you. Amen. Regards, Shodan ---
**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, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/124 "2009-11-13T23:56:42Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I like this suggestion quite a bit! > > Amen. > > Regards, > Shodan Thanks! I think we’re going to have a good weekend; we’re going to leave here fairly early tomorrow, catch a matinee movie, check into the B&B, maybe “celebrate” _before_ we go to dinner ;); then get dressed for dinner, go out have a nice meal; when we get back, we’ll have our champagne, have a nice long soak in the garden tub for two, and, uh, go to bed! Hopefully, we’ll enjoy a nice leisurely home-cooked breakfast Sunday morning, complete with fresh coffee (if they didn’t allow caffeine, we’d have a _real_ problem). . .a leisurely drive home, enjoying one another’s company. Sounds good! Being a property manager (which I am, by profession) is a lot like being a parent: it’s very difficult to get a day off! But I’m going to have one (barring emergencies: I will have my cell phone with me!), and I intend to enjoy it fully! ---
**Author:** ![drpepper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@drpepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drpepper)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/125 "2009-11-14T00:03:17Z")
I’m surprising myself by answering in a similar fashion as the Pit thread awhile back about the mother who was required to come in the building and sign her kids out of school every day. I’m all about respecting the rules and abiding by the regs someone sets for their private business, especially a small business like this one. Nevertheless, I’d sneak in the booze, make absolutely sure there was no trace of it, not be seen in the common areas with the smell of booze / slurred speech / other overt signs, even subtle ones, and scrupulously clean up after myself and take out the empties – I certainly wouldn’t leave or betray the evidence because that’s just a slap in the face to the hosts. But if I could do it with no indication to the hosts / owners, I would certainly do it. (and, as even sven mentioned above, giggle like a teenager in the process). ETA: a rule against smoking is a different ballpark altogether; there’s absolutely no “sneaking” with that one so there’s no question about abiding by the policy. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/126 "2009-11-14T03:31:32Z")
> [@drpepper](#): > > I’m surprising myself by answering in a similar fashion as the Pit thread awhile back about the mother who was required to come in the building and sign her kids out of school every day. > > I’m all about respecting the rules and abiding by the regs someone sets for their private business, especially a small business like this one. Nevertheless, I’d sneak in the booze, make absolutely sure there was no trace of it, not be seen in the common areas with the smell of booze / slurred speech / other overt signs, even subtle ones, and scrupulously clean up after myself and take out the empties – I certainly wouldn’t leave or betray the evidence because that’s just a slap in the face to the hosts. But if I could do it with no indication to the hosts / owners, I would certainly do it. (and, as even sven mentioned above, giggle like a teenager in the process). > > ETA: a rule against smoking is a different ballpark altogether; there’s absolutely no “sneaking” with that one so there’s no question about abiding by the policy. First, let me say, best username/post combo of the thread! 😉 Second, I agree: drinking _moderate_ amounts of alcohol is _in no way_ analogous with smoking. Smoking, even done in moderation, leaves a lingering odor which some people find offensive. Drinking moderately, under the guidelines you’ve set (and I intended from the start, were we to “sneak it in”) leaves no evidence. Some have said (OK, not “some”, “one”, but you get the point) that consumption of alcohol can lead to breaking things/stumbling around/vomiting. Well, in the past oh, five years, times when I’ve broken things/stumbled/vomited, alcohol has played no role at all. Illness happens. Clumsiness happens (all too often to me; I stumbled on a crack in the sidewalk a week ago, on my way home from the bus stop at 7:30AM; fortunately, the “fat lip” I got has gone down considerably, to a point it’s not really even noticeable; the scrapes/scratches on my face have receded to a point where they’ll be easily covered with makeup to go out to dinner tomorrow night; the bruises I sustained on my legs in the region of the knees will be readily covered by my black pantyhose.At the time of that stumble, I was under the influence of nothing more potent than my morning coffee!) Anyway, we have _never_ drank (drunk? 😛 ) to the point of vomiting/breaking things/acting like asses when spending the night out of town. And spending the night out of town is something we’ve done probably an average of six nights a year since we’ve been married. . .so, a total of almost five months. We’re probably not going to carry anything into the B&B with us any stronger than the champagne I already got the “go-ahead” on, but I _will_ make it clear to the inn-keepers that I think this rule should be clear _on their website_. ---
**Author:** ![drpepper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@drpepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drpepper)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/127 "2009-11-14T05:12:20Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > First, let me say, best username/post combo of the thread! 😉 > Second, I agree: drinking _moderate_ amounts of alcohol is _in no way_ analogous with smoking. Smoking, even done in moderation, leaves a lingering odor which some people find offensive. Drinking moderately, under the guidelines you’ve set (and I intended from the start, were we to “sneak it in”) leaves no evidence. > > Some have said (OK, not “some”, “one”, but you get the point) that consumption of alcohol can lead to breaking things/stumbling around/vomiting. Well, in the past oh, five years, times when I’ve broken things/stumbled/vomited, alcohol has played no role at all. Illness happens. Clumsiness happens (all too often to me; I stumbled on a crack in the sidewalk a week ago, on my way home from the bus stop at 7:30AM; fortunately, the “fat lip” I got has gone down considerably, to a point it’s not really even noticeable; the scrapes/scratches on my face have receded to a point where they’ll be easily covered with makeup to go out to dinner tomorrow night; the bruises I sustained on my legs in the region of the knees will be readily covered by my black pantyhose.At the time of that stumble, I was under the influence of nothing more potent than my morning coffee!) > > Anyway, we have _never_ drank (drunk? 😛 ) to the point of vomiting/breaking things/acting like asses when spending the night out of town. And spending the night out of town is something we’ve done probably an average of six nights a year since we’ve been married. . .so, a total of almost five months. > > We’re probably not going to carry anything into the B&B with us any stronger than the champagne I already got the “go-ahead” on, but I _will_ make it clear to the inn-keepers that I think this rule should be clear _on their website_. Yeah, breaking the rules isn’t a suggestion I make lightly, to just anyone. One has got to be discreet, and of course, have a history of using alcohol responsibly. Not everyone could pull it off, because not everyone is responsible and respectful about the whole thing. If there’s no trace or indication given to the hosts/owners, I see no harm… but that’s a very big ‘If’, and I think it’s pretty important to remove all evidence. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/128 "2009-11-14T06:07:59Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > I think the main point is that more than one person, and the OP, considered sneaking prohibited items into the B&B when they found out about it. > > That’s irrelevent. Social situations usually encourage drinking. We are talking about a place that does not. > > Then she could either do what she eventually did or cancel the reservation > > It’s over the top because I used apple cider? > > That depends. Are you sneaking in a king sized bed? If you considered that, I would say you have a problem > > I am not the one who asked “Should I sneak it in anyway even when its prohibited?” > > Turkish Delights are not addictive. They can be habit-forming, but as far as I know, nothing inside them contains an addictive chemical. Plus, eat too many in one sitting and you just get a stomachache. You don’t become dizzy and black out > > That would be fine if I were the one who brought it up. However, I wasn’t the one considering sneaking booze into a place that forbids it because to do so otherwise would somehow impair the evening > > Yes, it is obvious I have some anger over this issue but the burden was not mine to place. Maybe she should not be considering sneaking stuff in next time? > > I would cancel the reservation. > > That’s fine. I would find it strange too, and be a little annoyed. But I would have either canceled or gone without. You quite obviously have some very serious issues and are bringing a lot of baggage to the table. To me your responses in this thread haven’t been entirely rational, nor well thought thru but rather just a knee jerk “alcohol is teh eeeeevil” reactions. Which is a bit offensive to (I was gonna say some of us, but don’t wanna speak for others) me at least ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/129 "2009-11-14T13:40:36Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > You quite obviously have some very serious issues and are bringing a lot of baggage to the table. To me your responses in this thread haven’t been entirely rational, nor well thought thru but rather just a knee jerk “alcohol is teh eeeeevil” reactions. Which is a bit offensive to (I was gonna say some of us, but don’t wanna speak for others) me at least You realize, of course, that this is _just_ the kind of thing you’d say if you had an alcohol problem, right? 😉 😛 ---
**Author:** ![pope\_hentai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@pope\_hentai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pope_hentai)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/130 "2009-11-28T02:32:47Z")
hehe if I would have found out… i’ve had a similar situation happen at a convention once. i got ahold of a bunch of local friends, and left a large pile of collected empties from about 5 college students recycling bins strewn about my room with the half empty vodka bottle we always leave for the staff. If we had ben iformed of the policy before we traveled the 5 hours to the hotel i would have gotten another room, or made the hotel arrange for another room for the inconvienience. at the very least my friends and i would have cleaned the room like we usually did before we left. i hope that room smelled like stale beer for months. and thinking about it that was the ONLY year that particular hotel decided to enforce that particular policy. A couple of the guys i kow actually DID take thier 900 dollars for the weekend, tell the hotel manager to stuff it, threatened to lawyer up if they even thought to charge a dime, and got a room across the street at a discount after explaining what happened. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/131 "2009-11-28T03:06:27Z")
> [@pope\_hentai](#): > > i hope that room smelled like stale beer for months. I wouldn’t hope for that. After all. people who use the room _after_ me would have to put up with that smell, and for all I know, some of them chose that particular establishment partly _because_ of the “no alcohol” rule. It’s just that, to me, (unlike with smoking, which lingers no matter what you do), there’s a big difference between doing it discreetly, and being an asshole about it. And if _anyone_, including me or my husband, happens to be acting like an asshole at a nice establishment, I’d hope for them to be shown the door! But that’s just me.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/132 "2009-11-28T03:17:30Z")
So how did it go? ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/133 "2009-11-28T07:57:43Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > So how did it go? As I posted somewhere upthread, I explained the tradition to the inn-keeper, and she agreed to let me bring a _split_ of champagne in (a very small bottle; basically two glasses’ worth). We went to the movies that afternoon, then checked into the B&B and changed for dinner. I’d bought a dress that showed off my legs.😉 We went to a very nice steak-house for dinner where I got a NY Strip steak topped with lump crab meat. Yum! We didn’t order dessert, as the inn-keeper had promised us fresh-baked cookies before bedtime. She had them waiting on a plate for us! So we had cookies, then went to our room. I started filling the “garden tub for two” (she had warned me it would take a good half-hour), we toasted one another with the champagne that had chilled while we were gone. I drank all of mine, but he thought it was a little dry for his taste, so I took the rest of his into the garden tub with me! 😛 She also had a tray of individual chocolates on the night stand, so I had a couple of chocolates in the tub, too. Wow, a tub big enough to swim in, my second glass of champagne, _and_ chocolates! Talk about decadent! The bed was king-size and very comfortable. Quite nice. 😉 Breakfast was fresh coffee with real cream, an egg served in an egg-cup, a _huge_ Belgian waffle, sausage links, and something she called a “Breakfast Banana Split”; they were made in banana split boats, with the banana cut in half lining the sides, but were filled with French vanilla yogurt topped with berries, then whipped cream. Very tasty. Oh, and fresh orange juice, too. The drive home was beautiful, as well. Nice time. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183/134 "2009-11-28T12:33:12Z")
Sounds great - glad it all worked out so well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-found-out-saturdays-b-b-is-alcohol-free-what-would-you-do/517183.md?page=6)