Dry housewarming, worried guests will bring alcohol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't drink but if I have guests to my home I am obligated to provide them everything that brings them comfort and joy. They are after all my guest, I am not theirs. I provide refreshments which they enjoy, otherwise why invite them over.

I am a drinker, maybe even a heavy drinker (per another thread on here!), and even I don't expect people to serve me alcohol when we visit, regardless of if they drink or not. Sure, I'd love wine with dinner, or a cocktail while we chat, but water is a-okay too and doesn't make me "uncomfortable." Visiting with my friends brings me comfort and joy, regardless of what I'm drinking.

Im sure there will be water to make you conformable not drinking alcohol....I don't really get your point

[Anonymous]

Try harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't drink but if I have guests to my home I am obligated to provide them everything that brings them comfort and joy. They are after all my guest, I am not theirs. I provide refreshments which they enjoy, otherwise why invite them over.

I'll have a prostitute, please. Actually, make it two.

If you and the people who would invite someone like you to their home engage in illegal activities I'm sure you will be comfortable.

[Anonymous]

In the Midwest or the South you might get away with a dry housewarming, but on the Coasts, people drink.

Your really a lousy host if you don't let people know there's no alcohol in your home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they bring wine, say "how lovely, I will just go open it!"
Run into the kitchen, and flush it down the sink. Decant some alcohol-free wine into the same bottle, return to the party, and serve it up to the unsuspecting guests.
Win-win!

And you think no one will catch on to this plan?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they bring wine, say "how lovely, I will just go open it!"
Run into the kitchen, and flush it down the sink. Decant some alcohol-free wine into the same bottle, return to the party, and serve it up to the unsuspecting guests.
Win-win!

And you think no one will catch on to this plan?

This was an episode of Freaks & Geeks, only it was a keg party.

[Anonymous]

OP here - wow, was out all day and just checked this. Let me clear stuff up!

This is a kids also party during the day - not great friends, but school parents we've known for years. We just moved into a new house, and renovated, and it's also getting the (nosy) neighbors over who also have kids the same age/going into the same class as my kids. It's not till the Spring so I have plenty of time.

I am a big planner, so this is something I have been thinking about. I will be sending private emails to all invited, 6 families.

This is not, bring a gift party, but I never go to a party empty-handed so worried guest may bring drinks. We do not serve (my husband and I disagree on this - I don't want to serve) - and I do not want to accept a drink since I know those that bring drinks expect them to be served.

I guess I will write some note on the email when I send it - any ideas on what I should write to people I don't really know (the neighbors, not school parents)?

Thanks for the feedback!

[Anonymous]

Will it be a blast email to all invited? I'm sure someone else will come up with a more eloquent way to say this, but I'd say something like "We will have lots of food and refreshments, but, as you may know, we keep a dry household so will not be serving alcohol."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - wow, was out all day and just checked this. Let me clear stuff up!

This is a kids also party during the day - not great friends, but school parents we've known for years. We just moved into a new house, and renovated, and it's also getting the (nosy) neighbors over who also have kids the same age/going into the same class as my kids. It's not till the Spring so I have plenty of time.

I am a big planner, so this is something I have been thinking about. I will be sending private emails to all invited, 6 families.

This is not, bring a gift party, but I never go to a party empty-handed so worried guest may bring drinks. We do not serve (my husband and I disagree on this - I don't want to serve) - and I do not want to accept a drink since I know those that bring drinks expect them to be served.

I guess I will write some note on the email when I send it - any ideas on what I should write to people I don't really know (the neighbors, not school parents)?

Thanks for the feedback!

Sounds fun! (I'm the Jewish poster who posted about when we first got married). In the beginning, I added. "Ps-- we have a strictly kosher home. Please no outside food or drinks. But if you insist, feel free to bring Joe some domestic beer" so you could say. "Ps-- we have an alcohol-free home. No need to bring anything, but if you insist, Sally loves lemonade (or cookies, whatever)"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will it be a blast email to all invited? I'm sure someone else will come up with a more eloquent way to say this, but I'd say something like "We will have lots of food and refreshments, but, as you may know, we keep a dry household so will not be serving alcohol."

Agree with this. ESPECIALLY since you say you won't even accept a gift of alcohol. You really need to let people know in advance

[Anonymous]

I would keep it short and simple, at the bottom of the invite

**please, no alcohol**

[Anonymous]

Something like:

We'll serve BBQ and soft drinks, with Ice Cream sundaes for kids of all ages As you may know, we are an LDS family so we won't have coffee or alcohol on hand. Please remind us if there are any peanut or significant allergies in your family so we can properly label the buffet.

Or something like that. (Obviously you could be any number of religions)

[Anonymous]

If you are going so far as to not accept a bottle of wine, you've got to tell people. Not serving it is ok, but you can't not tell people then reject the gift. It would be really rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Something like:

We'll serve BBQ and soft drinks, with Ice Cream sundaes for kids of all ages As you may know, we are an LDS family so we won't have coffee or alcohol on hand. Please remind us if there are any peanut or significant allergies in your family so we can properly label the buffet.

Or something like that. (Obviously you could be any number of religions)

I like this one, worked into a paragraph about food in a natural way and acknowledging other family may have restrictions too

[Anonymous]

Thanks!!! No no I would never reject a gift, just feel bad if I won't serve it. I think I make go with something at the bottom- like no alcohol served. You guys are all a great help!