I was out with a group at a bar recently; some of the people I knew and some of them were friends of friends. One of the people I don’t know was headed to the bar to order another drink and grabbed me one, too. Was it O.K. that when it was my turn to get his round, I spent less than he did?

If when it was time for you to grab the person’s drink they asked you for a cheaper option, then getting that for them is totally fine. But if they ordered you a whiskey and you took it upon yourself to order them a light beer when it was your turn, then you are just plain cheap. If someone buys you a round, you should make every effort to try and spend the same on them as they did on you. You don’t want to get a reputation for being the person who doesn’t pay their fair share.

Should I tip if I order water from a bartender?

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No, that’s not necessary. In fact, if you do it’s a little odd. A bartender shouldn’t expect a tip for pouring you a glass of water. If, however, you’re taking up a seat at a crowded bar and not drinking, then you might want to grab your glass of water and stand so the bartender can serve people who will be ordering drinks and therefore giving tips.

What is the best alcohol to have if I’m hosting a group of people and I don’t know their tastes very well?

Bubbly. No one says know to bubbles, whether it’s Champagne, Prosecco or Cava. It’s always a crowd-pleaser.