Method
Splitting the bill when some people did not drink
Take the alcohol out of the bill and split it between the drinkers only, then divide the rest normally. It is the item that most often breaks an equal split, because its unit price is several times that of a main course: on a group bill, two bottles of wine easily amount to a full share, which makes the gap noticeable and therefore argued about.
Why alcohol breaks an equal split
Because its unit price bears no relation to the rest of the table. A bottle of wine at a restaurant often costs as much as a main, a cocktail as much as a starter. On a group bill, two or three bottles easily amount to a full share: the gap becomes noticeable, and what is noticeable eventually gets discussed.
The clean method: a separate line
Ask for the itemised bill, isolate the alcohol total, split it between the drinkers only, then divide the rest equally. It takes a minute and settles the matter for good. It is also the only method that stays fair when several people at the table do not drink, which is increasingly common.
The quick method: a reduced share
When nobody has the itemised bill and the total is modest, count the non-drinker as a reduced share, around 0.7. It is approximate and everyone knows it, but it is vastly better than an equal split, and the maths can be done in your head. Keep this method for small bills: past a hundred euros or so, the approximation costs more than the time it saves.
Say it before, not when the bill arrives
The worst moment to raise it is when the bill lands, because the person who did not drink then has to justify themselves in front of the whole table. If someone is not drinking, the question comes at ordering time: "shall we keep the drinks separate?". Asked then, it is neutral; asked at the end, it points at someone.
Key points
- The unit price of a bottle of wine at a restaurant is commonly equivalent to that of a main course.
- Separating alcohol from a bill and splitting it between drinkers only is the method that stays fair whatever the number of non-drinkers.
- A flat reduced share, around 0.7, approximates the split without an itemised bill but loses accuracy as the amount grows.
- Raising the alcohol question at ordering time keeps it neutral, whereas raising it when the bill arrives singles someone out.
- In France, a restaurant must provide an itemised bill for any total from 25 euros.
Frequently asked questions
How do you ask for an itemised bill without awkwardness?
Ask when ordering, not at the end. In France an itemised bill is compulsory from 25 euros anyway.
What if only one person is not drinking?
That is precisely the case where an equal split costs that person the most. A separate line remains the right answer.
Should you do the same for coffee or dessert?
Rarely: their unit prices are too close for the gap to show. Alcohol is a special case because of its price.