When you're at a dinner party and there's only wine, no other drinks

[Anonymous]

Ok, I think it is odd not to have water for everyone, even those drinking wine. But for a dinner, I think it is odd to expect more than water to be offered.

Cocktail hour, happy hour, backyard bbq, sure. I would offer a selection of non-alcoholic drinks. But in general, wine is picked to pair well with the meal and water is to quench your thirst. You can live through a meal without a tasty drink.

[Anonymous]

You ask for water. Why are you so whiny and difficult?

I don't drink wine and wouldn't have batted an eye in this situation. My husband and I ask for water, that's all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haha....I thought this thread was going to be about hosts that don’t offer cocktails and I was prepared to share your outrage. So disappointing.

+1

Just had a dinner party with wine and cocktails. Soda was for the teens, although we did have it. Good grief.

When I saw the thread title I made sure we had a good selection of beer in the fridge.

[Anonymous]

Why does anyone even bother hosting dinner parties these days with all of these picky people? Vegetarian, vegan, no sugar, no fat, pescatarian, no soda, no alcohol, no carbs, paleo, gluten free. Unless it’s a serious health matter, just be a good guest and shut up and eat. You are there for one evening. Surely, you can deal for a few hours. For example, OP can drink the damn water during dinner and then go home and have her glass of iced tea or lemonade later. Grow the hell up and realize that hosting people is hard work and that perhaps the host was too busy to think of every little contingency.

[Anonymous]

We aren't big drinkers, but I guess we don't drink anything other than water, wine and coffee in the morning. DD drinks milk and water only. I'd never think to serve adults lemonade or iced tea.

For a BBQ I might provide soda, but I don't always have soda on hand and it's weird to have soda at a fancy dinner party.

[Anonymous]

Kinda surprised an adult would want soda or lemonade at a dinner party. Way too sugary and they would mess up the flavors of dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Geez, ask for water. Open your mouth and ask for water. With the million things she was doing and providing, she probably just forgot.

You are a total PITA. Really.

This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, lots of nasty folks out today. How hard is it to just be aware not all of your guests may want to drink alcohol, and have some alternative? It's just hospitality.

The alternative is sparkling or still water, and coffee or tea with dessert. I offer sodas and juice during cocktail hour, not during a nice dinner.

And you're not a control freak at all, so you've got that going for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's fine to have just water, but I do think your host should have offered it. But maybe they really just forgot.

+1
When I have a dinner party, I offer still or sparkling water, with a slice of lemon if guests want it. Otherwise, it's just wine. It's not a cocktail party, and I don't feel obligated to have a full bar or a bunch of drink options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does anyone even bother hosting dinner parties these days with all of these picky people? Vegetarian, vegan, no sugar, no fat, pescatarian, no soda, no alcohol, no carbs, paleo, gluten free. Unless it’s a serious health matter, just be a good guest and shut up and eat. You are there for one evening. Surely, you can deal for a few hours. For example, OP can drink the damn water during dinner and then go home and have her glass of iced tea or lemonade later. Grow the hell up and realize that hosting people is hard work and that perhaps the host was too busy to think of every little contingency.

x1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Related question: why don't many of you have other options in the house other than wine/beef, coffee/tea and water? Why don't you drink other types of beverages? Yes they're sugary and not healthy but how is this different than keeping cookies/pastries/cupcakes/ice cream in the house?

Because if I'm thirsty, I want water. Sometimes I add a slice of lemon. In the summer, we make pitchers of water infused with cucumber, mint, lemon, berries, etc.
I don't see the point in buying juice or soda that no one who lives in my house likes.

My mom always said that she preferred to chew her calories, which is a pretty reasonable approach to me. And FWIW, we don't keep a lot of cookies or cupcakes in the house, either. We have ice cream for dessert probably once a week, because we like ice cream. The same cannot be said for juice and soda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do the must have only wine with nice day dinner say to Morman or Muslim guests who don't drink? Or do you not invite them?

I offer them still or sparkling water.

[Anonymous]

OP, I have had the same problem. If I'm offered only alcohol, I ask for water. I just hope that the host notices and feels a little awkward and that the next time they invite people over that they include some iced tea or sodas. But I don't want to make a big deal out of it.

I've been in recovery since 1987, so I'm cool with water. But it's also true that usually if I'm around alcohol, I'd prefer something with flavor like a Coke so the alcohol doesn't distract me. I manage okay without it but I do wonder about people who are recently in recovery. It must be so much harder for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok, I think it is odd not to have water for everyone, even those drinking wine. But for a dinner, I think it is odd to expect more than water to be offered.

Cocktail hour, happy hour, backyard bbq, sure. I would offer a selection of non-alcoholic drinks. But in general, wine is picked to pair well with the meal and water is to quench your thirst. You can live through a meal without a tasty drink.

Normally I would agree with you but as a recovering alcoholic it helps to have something with flavor in it in order to deal with the smells of alcohol that other people are drinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do the must have only wine with nice day dinner say to Morman or Muslim guests who don't drink? Or do you not invite them?

I offer them still or sparkling water.

Don't Mormons not drink soda? What do Muslims drink with every meal? Soda? Lemonade?

I'm shocked by this thread because I thought most people drank water at dinner (if not drinking alcoholic beverages)