No alcohol at a class reunion - unusual?

[ms.yt]

If the reunion is held in a venue that sells alcohol I can about bet the waiters and waitresses will be offering alcohol and running tabs/selling separately. This is where the venues make quite a bit of money and I cannot imagine they will refuse sells.

Now if it is in a catering hall that doesn't have a bartender it might be different but seriously... I can't remember which reunion you said this is but presumably you are all in your thirties by now so I would think you could decide individually if you think alcohol consumption is appropriate.

Liz

It's at a community center and catered by a local restaurant. The community center does allow alcohol to be brought in for events, though. The reunion committee just decided not to do it.

And yes, this is a 20 year reunion, so we're all well in our 30s. In fact, I'm just a few weeks away from being out of mine!

 

[englishteacha]

Is the dinner being held at a restaurant, or at a club, or other function hall? I just wonder if the venue might be alcohol free/not have a liquor license, which is why they're so insistent that no one bring alcohol.

 

[Traveliz]

It's at a community center and catered by a local restaurant. The community center does allow alcohol to be brought in for events, though. The reunion committee just decided not to do it.

And yes, this is a 20 year reunion, so we're all well in our 30s. In fact, I'm just a few weeks away from being out of mine!

Ahh well then no alcohol.

Liz

 

[Mama Who]

It wouldn't bother me. I guess I don't see alcohol as necessary for a good time. Some parties have it, some don't. I can enjoy both kinds. If people are really desperate to drink, get together at a bar for an after party.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Maybe they are trying to cut costs by not paying for alcohol. Is a party with no alcohol really that unusual?

 

[DWGal210]

Maybe they are trying to cut costs by not paying for alcohol. Is a party with no alcohol really that unusual?

That could be. I was on the committee for our 10 year reunion & we didn't include drinks with the cost. We just had a cash bar & served heavy appetizers.

I took the OPs post to mean the organizers made an effort & said "no alcohol", not just that it wasn't included in the cost.

 

[ms.yt]

That could be. I was on the committee for our 10 year reunion & we didn't include drinks with the cost. We just had a cash bar & served heavy appetizers.

I took the OPs post to mean the organizers made an effort & said "no alcohol", not just that it wasn't included in the cost.

Yes, there could have been alcohol that everybody paid for themselves by the drink. The committee of about 3 people made that decision for everybody else.

 

[ms.yt]

Maybe they are trying to cut costs by not paying for alcohol. Is a party with no alcohol really that unusual?

That's what I was asking. I just always assumed that nearly 40 year old adults at their class reunion would have the choice to have a beer or two.

 

[Mama Who]

Yes, there could have been alcohol that everybody paid for themselves by the drink. The committee of about 3 people made that decision for everybody else.

Unfortunately, the three people who volunteer to do the work get to make the decisions. If alcohol is really vital to other class members, perhaps they'll volunteer to do the work for the next one and they can plan it to suit their tastes.

 

[DebIreland]

If people are really desperate to drink, get together at a bar for an after party.

You don't have to be desperate to drink to enjoy a glass of wine or a beer.

OP, I think it's selfish and rude of those organising it to insist on a no-alcohol gathering. If they don't want to drink fine but they shouldn't impose their wishes on others.

 

[DWGal210]

Unfortunately, the three people who volunteer to do the work get to make the decisions. If alcohol is really vital to other class members, perhaps they'll volunteer to do the work for the next one and they can plan it to suit their tastes.

Chiming in too agree with this, too. As we planned our reunion, I got so sick of hearing things like - why didn't you do such and such, it's too much money, it's cheap & you could have done more, etc....it never ended. Most people were fine but there was a vocal set of people. I so wanted to retort back that I would put them on the commuter for the 15 year, then, since they had so many fabulous ideas.

 

[Mkrop]

I'm wondering how many people will show up tipsy now just to irritate the organizers.

My classmates would be at the nearest bar before and after or tailgating in the parking lot

 

[Acklander]

That would bother me because, as an adult, I feel perfectly capable to make my own decisions. If it were me, I'd probably go to the afternoon picnic and count that as my chance to catch up with everyone. I'd probably boycott the evening one just in principle

 

[Mama Who]

You don't have to be desperate to drink to enjoy a glass of wine or a beer.

OP, I think it's selfish and rude of those organising it to insist on a no-alcohol gathering. If they don't want to drink fine but they shouldn't impose their wishes on others.

Well, someone probably thinks I'm selfish and rude for not providing strippers at events I organize but until they step up and help with the work, my wishes will get imposed. Also, there will be no clowns. You want clowns, you plan the party. I'm mean that way.

I don't have a tremendous amount of sympathy for people who let others do all the work and then whine about how it is done. Did any of the people griping offer to help organize the party?

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Well, someone probably thinks I'm selfish and rude for not providing strippers at events I organize but until they step up and help with the work, my wishes will get imposed. Also, there will be no clowns. You want clowns, you plan the party. I'm mean that way.

I don't have a tremendous amount of sympathy for people who let others do all the work and then whine about how it is done. Did any of the people griping offer to help organize the party?

I agree - the people who are upset that they are not getting the "choice" of alcohol can "choose" not to attend if a drink means that much to them.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'd have a serious problem voluntarily attending an event where someone else was dictating what I could or could not drink. I don't do well when someone else imposes their values on me. It's not that I'm a big drinker -- I have maybe 5 drinks per year -- but it's the principle of the thing.

Doesn't EVERY party you go to (unless it's a pot luck) "dictate" what you could/could not drink/eat? I'm sorry, I just don't get the "no alcohol, then *I* won't go!". Maybe I should start asking party places if they're going to server Pepsi (my soda of choice)... if it's Coke, I'll stay at home.

It wouldn't bother me. I guess I don't see alcohol as necessary for a good time. Some parties have it, some don't. I can enjoy both kinds. If people are really desperate to drink, get together at a bar for an after party.

Unfortunately, the three people who volunteer to do the work get to make the decisions. If alcohol is really vital to other class members, perhaps they'll volunteer to do the work for the next one and they can plan it to suit their tastes.

Big time!

That would bother me because, as an adult, I feel perfectly capable to make my own decisions. If it were me, I'd probably go to the afternoon picnic and count that as my chance to catch up with everyone. I'd probably boycott the evening one just in principle

Sorry, I think it's "much ado about nothing".

 

[DebIreland]

Well, someone probably thinks I'm selfish and rude for not providing strippers at events I organize but until they step up and help with the work, my wishes will get imposed. Also, there will be no clowns. You want clowns, you plan the party. I'm mean that way.

I don't have a tremendous amount of sympathy for people who let others do all the work and then whine about how it is done. Did any of the people griping offer to help organize the party?

I think you're assuming far too much. How do you know that the guests are letting others do all the work? Perhaps the organisers happily volunteered and were very happy to do the work. Perhaps they didn't want others to volunteer? I guess I feel the opposite way to you as I can't stand people who volunteer and then whine about the non-volunteers doing no work. If you can't do the work, don't step up and offer to do it. At my sons' old school the head of the Parents Association refused to let any newcomers help, no matter how often they offered. Her and her 'merry men' insisted they could do everything and actively blocked other parents from participating, even those who were experts at the task at hand. Then, of course, she simply relished complaining that she had to work sooo hard when others sat back. It was obnoxious.

And honestly, comparing someone wanting a glass of wine with their dinner to someone wanting to watch a striptease act is ridiculous.

 

[amg35]

I agree - the people who are upset that they are not getting the "choice" of alcohol can "choose" not to attend if a drink means that much to them.

Yes, and that would be my choice!

I'm not sure I can think of a more boring night......

(I should probably say I would never go to my reunion anyways!)

 

[Mama Who]

I think you're assuming far too much. How do you know that the guests are letting others do all the work? Perhaps the organisers happily volunteered and were very happy to do the work. Perhaps they didn't want others to volunteer? I guess I feel the opposite way to you as I can't stand people who volunteer and then whine about the non-volunteers doing no work. If you can't do the work, don't step up and offer to do it. At my sons' old school the head of the Parents Association refused to let any newcomers help, no matter how often they offered. Her and her 'merry men' insisted they could do everything and actively blocked other parents from participating, even those who were experts at the task at hand. Then, of course, she simply relished complaining that she had to work sooo hard when others sat back. It was obnoxious.

And honestly, comparing someone wanting a glass of wine with their dinner to someone wanting to watch a striptease act is ridiculous.

Okay, let's hear from the OP...

Did the people complaining ask to help and get rejected?
Did the volunteers complain about doing the work?

And why is one adult legal activity necessary to a party and one "ridiculous." Both are totally legal for a group of adults. Or do you have a personal objection to strippers that you would "impose" on others if you were in charge?

 

[Dancind]

I would be imagining the conversation at the organizer's meeting.

Org. 1: I think we should ban alcohol at our events.
Org 2: Some people might not come if we do that.
Org 1: Good. We don't want that kind at our event anyway.

Yeah, I wouldn't go.