In many places it is customary for people to take turns buying rounds of drinks in which each individual in turn pays for a set of drinks for all present. A ubiquitous custom in Ireland and the United Kingdom, this practice is also customary in Australia, New Zealand and in many parts of North America, especially in areas where people with cultural roots in Ireland and the UK predominate. A notable exception was the UK State Management Scheme in which treating (i.e. buying a round) was forbidden, from July 1916 until June 1919.
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The Etiquette
The etiquette surrounding this practice is as follows:[1]
- Offering money to the person buying a round, failing to take a turn at buying a round, refusing a drink or staying clear of the practice entirely and just buying one's own drinks may all be perceived as impolite.
- It is generally accepted that not everyone will stay long enough to buy a round, instead of trying to avoid being in the round it is better to accept the drink with thanks. This is done on the understanding that at a later date this might be reciprocated.
- Etiquette demands that items of the same or relatively similar value should be requested by everybody.
- Members only have to go through the 'buying procedure' once each unless the session is sufficient in length that a person's turn comes back around.
- There is often a bit of good-natured argument about who will buy the next round.
- In some situations this might not apply, such as when there are too many people or it is understood that you are only going to be having one or two drinks.
The Scheme
The round itself can be displayed, thus:
- First Round
- Actor A: Buys Drinks for Actor A, Passive B and Passive C.
- Second Round
- Actor B: Buys drinks for Passive A, Actor B and Passive C.
- Third Round
- Actor C: Buys drinks for Passive A, Passive B and Actor C.
Interloping
Problems can enter the arrangement when another agent (Actor D) is added to the situation before the round system has played out fully, with every participant equally involved. For example:
- First Round
- Actor A: Buys Drinks for Actor A, Passive B and Passive C.
- Second Round
- Actor B: Buys drinks for Passive A, Actor B and Passive C.
If Actor D joins the group here, a decision will have to be made. Does D buy drinks for all passives, incurring a greater cost to him (and C) compared to A and B, or does he wait for the round to play out, buying and consuming his own drinks at leisure? The second suggestion is usually the most suitable, though large queues at the bar can often dissuade one from this course of action. Amongst groups of close friends this does not tend to be an issue, as it is generally assumed that if spread out over a number of occasions, the cost to each person will be approximately the same.
