Drinking rounds in Thailand

[bubba1]

Is there any real reason to drink rounds in Thailand? I understand in the UK most pubs don't have wait staff so it makes sense for one person to buy the round at the bar. But why in Thailand?

[kayo]

For me, drinking rounds with friends has just been a social norm. The amount of idle staff waiting to serve is irrelevant.

[Crossy]

I always pay my own, as do the crowd I drink with (not often, maybe once a month).

We drink at different rates (first one does not touch the sides), have different capacities / limits (some of us have to drive) so rounds really make no sense.

I'm not going to get a round of eight beers in if I'm only going to drink two.

I do tend to buy dive-in-and-share bar snacks mind.

[Jim walker]

When out drinking with my Scottish mates we always just split the total tab but in my local with English yanks Canadians everyone has their own tab at table just what you ate used to

[Bangkokhatter]

If your in a group all asking for a separate bin it becomes a nightmare sometimes, especially outside of the tourist areas.

I generally split the bill, you soon find out who the free loaders are, they can have their own bin

[12DrinkMore]

No more rounds for me.

"Come on get it down your throat"

"Just one more round"

Last time I did that I was in a coma for the next day.

Now I pay drink by drink, no tabs, no arguments, no bill padding, no subsidising someone's alcohol addiction, leave at anytime, and no coma.

[godden]

The next one is on you.

[Khon Kaen Dave]

I think the 'bin' idea is a great idea.Like the other poster,i drink at a pace that suits me.The 'bin' eliviates the round system without having to appear mean.If you want to buy a friend a drink,you tell the girl "my bin" It works for me,and i think that other drinkers find it more relaxing than having to keep up with 'swallowers' Also with a 'bin' you are totally responsible for the amount you drink.

Long live the bin.

[quandow]

Up to you . . .

[mankondang]

When out drinking with my Scottish mates we always just split the total tab but in my local with English yanks Canadians everyone has their own tab at table just what you ate used to

Drinking with Scottish mates:

"See you Jimmy, tis your round"

"But I bought the last round"

Whack, whack...."See you Jimmy, tis your round"

[ivan96822]

No need to buy rounds when you can drink for cheap on the street across from any establishment before going in.

[MrTee]

Sometimes I want to buy a drink for my friends.
Not that important to me if others do not reciprocate. but you don't forget.

[NoshowJones]

I always pay my own, as do the crowd I drink with (not often, maybe once a month).

We drink at different rates (first one does not touch the sides), have different capacities / limits (some of us have to drive) so rounds really make no sense.

I'm not going to get a round of eight beers in if I'm only going to drink two.

I do tend to buy dive-in-and-share bar snacks mind.

Try that in the UK Crossy, and your drinking buddies probably won't be drinking buddies much longer.

But I definitely do agree with you, If I was a drinker, and I only wanted two pints to last me the night, that

is what I would have and pity help anyone who insisted I stand my round.

[thaiduncankk]

It is not compulsory, if someone offers, you can politely decline, and tell them that you would rather drink at your own pace, and therefore have your own bin.

As someone mentioned before, if you wish to buy someone in the company a drink, just tell the server to put the bill for that drink in your bin.

[smotherb]

For me, drinking rounds with friends has just been a social norm. The amount of idle staff waiting to serve is irrelevant.

Yes, exactly, absolutely nothing to do with the wait staff. As a matter of fact, I prefer being seated at the bar, so no wait staff is required, only a decent bartender.

Buying a round for me is a courtesy thing, but only at certain bars. If you have regular drinking buddies and frequent a friend's pub, you buy a round, they each buy a round, the pub owner buys a round or two--it's good for his business and it creates a camaraderie of good feeling. Of course, for it to even out, everyone needs to buy a round and it may only be even over the long run with common drinking buddies.

Those who accept a drink, but don't reciprocate, including the pub owner, are soon discovered--I will say, give everyone except what-his-face a drink on me; sometimes they get the message, sometimes not, but I'll remember. If the owner doesn't buy a round after his customers have bought rounds, I will drink elsewhere.

There is one pub here run by a farang, he is personable enough, but has never been known to buy a drink, let alone a round. His only saving grace is he serves pretty good food. So, I eat there once in a while, but have only one drink and move on to a more friendly establishment.

Of course, there is an element of sound finance involved. If you are living on a shoestring, drink only the cheapest beer, you are less likely to buy a round. No problem, if you don't accept a round.

[SoiBiker]

I think the 'bin' idea is a great idea.Like the other poster,i drink at a pace that suits me.The 'bin' eliviates the round system without having to appear mean.If you want to buy a friend a drink,you tell the girl "my bin" It works for me,and i think that other drinkers find it more relaxing than having to keep up with 'swallowers' Also with a 'bin' you are totally responsible for the amount you drink.

Long live the bin.

I've heard tell of these 'bins', but everywhere I drink either just keeps track of what I order and brings me a bill when I ask, or charges a drink at a time. Are bins a gogo bar thing or something?

[smokie36]

I pay the bill or one of my friends does.

Quite straightforward really.

[giddyup]

I think the 'bin' idea is a great idea.Like the other poster,i drink at a pace that suits me.The 'bin' eliviates the round system without having to appear mean.If you want to buy a friend a drink,you tell the girl "my bin" It works for me,and i think that other drinkers find it more relaxing than having to keep up with 'swallowers' Also with a 'bin' you are totally responsible for the amount you drink.

Long live the bin.

I've heard tell of these 'bins', but everywhere I drink either just keeps track of what I order and brings me a bill when I ask, or charges a drink at a time. Are bins a gogo bar thing or something?

I believe there is a small bar in Hoi Yai (it's almost impossible to find) that uses the "bin", but otherwise never seen one.

[Crossy]

I always pay my own, as do the crowd I drink with (not often, maybe once a month).

We drink at different rates (first one does not touch the sides), have different capacities / limits (some of us have to drive) so rounds really make no sense.

I'm not going to get a round of eight beers in if I'm only going to drink two.

I do tend to buy dive-in-and-share bar snacks mind.

Try that in the UK Crossy, and your drinking buddies probably won't be drinking buddies much longer.

But I definitely do agree with you, If I was a drinker, and I only wanted two pints to last me the night, that

is what I would have and pity help anyone who insisted I stand my round.

I fell into the trap too many times to count, Friday lunch time somehow I was always first into the pub so I got the first round of 4 or 5 in, then drank 2.

Of course it was always, "I'll get the first one next week" from one of the lads who would mysteriously be on-site or busy or sick the next week. Grrrrr.

One by-product was that by far the best code was written on a Friday afternoon, 200 lines and not a single comment, but it worked like a charm ...

[stoneyboy]

A simple kitty avoids any hassles when drinking in rounds.

Job done.