Assuming that this place is much preferred to other options, and that having to “sneak” it wouldn’t harsh your buzz, I would just bring the alcohol. I would not try to shoehorn some abstract, ethical rationalization into the situation: I want to bring it, no one is going to be harmed, so I’m going to bring it. (Ok, that’s an abstract ethical position of sorts, but you know what I mean.)
I’d probably politely cancel and explain that a civilised alcoholic toast (enjoyed in moderation) is an immutable part of your anniversary tradition and perhaps they might want to clarify the no alcohol rule on the website to avoid future misunderstandings.
There are some events in life that, IMHO, almost do require an alcoholic drink (unless you teetotal for whatever reason). As a personal example, a couple of years ago I managed to get some money together to take my wife to Disneyland for her birthday. And after turning on the charm and playing up the Friendly Aussie act, I managed to get reservations (at short notice) at the Blue Bayou restaurant on her birthday night. And we had the most wonderful food- it was outstanding- but Disneyland is dry, so we were eating lobster and filet mignon accompanied by a non-vintage Coca-Cola. It was just… not quite right. A meal that nice, and on a special occasion, really needed a nice wine.
But we knew Disneyland was dry up-front, so we kept a nice bottle of wine in our hotel room for when we returned after the park closed, so it all worked out. The point is that Disneyland are up-front about their “No Grog” policy, and this B&B should be too- because a special occasion like a wedding anniversary really does need an alcoholic beverage for the toast, IMHO, and if their policy is going to nobble that, then you should be able to take your business somewhere more accommodating for your plans.
I fail to see how this is any different from the earlier thread where almost everyone agreed it was okay to sneak food into the movies.
On the other hand, I would do neither. And I hate alcohol.
You know, I never even thought of that comparison. And while I’m sure it’s true that you would do neither, we sneak food into the movies all the time. We also sneaked vanilla vodka into a rock concert a few years back. It was being held at the local fair grounds, and beer was being sold all over the place, but the hubby doesn’t like beer at all, and I have stomach issues which make it very difficult for me to drink more than say 6oz of beer in the course of an hour. So we discreetly put some vodka in a small water bottle, bought a Diet Coke at the concession, and enjoyed the concert. (In fact, hubby enjoyed the concert so much he had to ask me to drive home! 
).
All this, of course, means that one or the other of us does get drunk from time to time. But not when we go away to celebrate a special occasion like our anniversary. For us, good drink, like good food, enhances the occasion.
I don’t know that any (certainly not many) do think that forbidding alcohol is unreasonable - we think that forbidding alcohol but not stating that fact up-front is unreasonable.
But your comparisons are flawed. Smoking “done properly” still stinks up the place. Drinking “done properly” does not result in spilages, vomit or actions likely to cause liability issues.
Vanilla Vodka w/ Diet Coke <------------------------------------------->Single Malt Scotch
Wow! That just seems like total opposite ends of the spectrum to me. :0
The inn owner asked you not to bring alcohol knowing it could cost them a booking. I’d honor her request. That being said; people generally like to make exceptions*. Like some people above, I was surprised at the ‘vodka’ because I thought that indicated a ‘night-of-drinking’ as opposed to a toast. My point is, give the lady one more chance before you make your decision, and ask if she could make an exception since it’s your anniversary, and you’ll only be having a single drink. It couldn’t hurt to ask, then if she says ‘No’ you can tell her you’re disappointed but it’s important to you, and that you’ll have to find other accommodations.
*Something very similar to this happened to me. A group of us were going to stay at a bed & breakfast type place. They have a strict no-alcohol policy. We assured them that we wouldn’t get out of hand, and in our case, asked it would be alright if we brought beer. They relented, and we’ve been back 3 more times over the last few years. Each time they say there’s a no alcohol policy, but they soften up a bit when we talk to them and let them know we’re ‘good’ people… not the Sales group that was in there and trashed the place in drunken revelry.
To be fair, not all B&B owners are anti-semitic.
Well, the big difference is, if we’re both going to drink it, it has to be something we both enjoy. I do not like Scotch, and seeing as how hubby’s preferred brand costs $130.00/bottle, it seems like it would be quite wasteful for me make it palatable by “mixing” it! Plus, hubby might :eek: at the idea!
This is an excellent idea. I will call her this morning. Thank you! I really cannot understand the appeal of wanting the ambiance of a B&B and then not being able to enjoy it because you’re trashed. I mean, isn’t getting trashed at hotels for college kids on Spring Break, and sleeping 8 to a room in a Holiday Inn to make it cheaper?
So they’re worried that the in-house alcoholic is going through people’s luggage, and don’t want him to find any booze? Sounds like a great place to stay.
Guess you’re not staying in West Virginia, are you? All our fall foliage is on the ground! 
Genteel. :smack: Not the first time I spelled it that way.
That’s like suggesting someone pour orange juice on their cereal because milk is banned. This is a celebration/vacation. People don’t go to restaraunts to get substitutes for what they want. This is a special time for the op and they want to experience it on their terms and not someone else’s.
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.
NO.
Bring the booze in, and leave the empties where they will find them after you check out.
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.
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.
P.S. You might want to reread your own lengthy post before you go around calling other people whiners.
People drink because it tastes good and they find drinking fun.
People also eat snacks because they taste good and find eating snacks fun. But you don’t NEED snacks to have a good time. Should we not have snacks? Is always wanting snacks a problem on this level?
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!”
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?
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.
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.
Really annoying lecture: You don’t do it so no one should.
Heh. I once stayed at a B&B that I’m convinced the owner opened precisely to accommodate his alcohol consumption. They had “sherry hour” every evening, and he was enthusiastically keeping up with the guests at every turn.
Heh. I’ve never been to a B&B that didn’t either enthusiastically point out the various local wineries and breweries, serve wine, or contain a restaurant that served alcohol. The idea of a B&B not allowing alcohol is completely foreign to my experience, which is why I am suspicious that the B&B not listing the policy on the website was deceptive rather than an oversight.
Before reading this thread, it never would have even occurred to me that it might be a problem. I have a hard time believing that the place doesn’t know that many potential customers would think similarly.
I’m going to open a B&B that requires guests to drink alcohol and smoke, but not announce it on the website.