Post # 1
Member
982 posts
Busy bee
I’m wondering, if you were to go to an open bar, would you drink less? I got to thinking, that in my area cash bars are the absolute norm. I go to an average of 5-6 weddings a year, and every single one has been a cash bar, I’ve never even been to an open bar wedding before. And as such, the venues around here you pay for every drink (which can be up to $7 a drink), and not a set amount per head. If I were to go to a wedding with an open bar, I seriously think I would drink less because I know someone else is paying for it! Probably only 1-2 drinks, plus the wine with supper. It’s like when someone takes you out to supper, you don’t order dessert. Just curious what other bees think about it!
Disclaimer: I’m not trying to start an open/cash bar debate here. I’m truly curious.
Post # 2
Member
47413 posts
Honey Beekeeper
CanadianBride456: I think you may be in the minority. I think most people drink more when they are not paying- particularly men in their twenties.
Post # 3
Member
2942 posts
Sugar bee
CanadianBride456: I think I drink just as much either way. Around here it tends to be split between the time that the bar is full open, and then they will turn to cash bar. I tend to drink a set amount of drinks per event, and if I’m paying or not really doesn’t factor that much.
Post # 4
Bee
382 posts
Helper bee
- Wedding: Cottage on the Creek
yeah most open bars you pay per person per hour not per drink so my friends better drink up to make up for granny.
Post # 5
Bee
382 posts
Helper bee
- Wedding: Cottage on the Creek
the bars around here that i looked at, i mean. all weddings here are open bar, usually beer and wine only but never cash.
Post # 6
Member
10632 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
Miss Coral: I could be wrong, but I think a venue charging that way wouldn’t be legal. I do know there are legal minimum drink prices.
Post # 7
Member
8679 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I drink the same amount. Sometimes with an open bar I may drink less bc some places use cheap alcohol and I hate the taste.
Post # 8
Member
9157 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
CanadianBride456: Most open bars charge the hosts a set price per person, so they’re paying the same amount no matter how much you drink. I see it as my duty to make sure they get their money’s worth. I don’t get trashed, but I definitely drink more than I would at a cash bar. I know
some places do charge the host per-drink, but a flat rate per person is much more common.
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This reply was modified 6 years, 2 months ago by
Daisy_Mae. Reason: fixed my dumb
Post # 9
Member
2115 posts
Buzzing bee
CanadianBride456: i would actually drink more if it were open. but im not sure if it would really be that much more. all the open bars i went too, the drinks were payed up front. so its not like the more i drink the more they pay. it has all ready been payed for and usually for a wedding (like mine) you make sure your guests never run out of booze. but like an OP said, open bars are usually beer and wine. with a occational signiture drink.
Post # 10
Member
10632 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
Daisy_Mae: In Canada? I’ve never seen a place in this province that does a flat rate, and as I stated above, not sure it’s legal.
Post # 11
Member
1554 posts
Bumble bee
AB Bride: In many states, it’s legal for a venue to charge per head for a set number of hours of open bar.
However, that can be different in other areas of the US and in Canada.
Post # 12
Member
3576 posts
Sugar bee
I would honestly drink the same. I am out to have fun. Not to mention i am a light weight so 4 to 6 drinks sometimes less and that will do the trick. They are hosting it for there guest to drink and have fun so why not.
Post # 14
Member
619 posts
Busy bee
I tend to drink the same amount either way. But i have witnessed people double-fisting drinks because they were free. We had an open bar reception (outdoor, summer, casual) with batenders and i think people drank more that day than they would have if they had to pay.
Post # 15
Member
2453 posts
Buzzing bee
Midwest US- I’ve been to weddings with cash and open bars. For the open bars, it wasn’t paid for by consumption, but by some flat rate per person per hour, so it wouldn’t matter
At these open bars, I’ll drink slightly more, partly because it’s free, but also partly because I’d feel guilty not using what was provided (similar to how I would feel if I didn’t eat half my dinner).
If I was in the situation where the bar was paid for by consumption, I would not take advantage of our hosts and I would only drink what I would have been willing to pay for.