@JLeslie I’d like to think so, but it’s so much about the socializing that goes along with the drinking and breaking that habit socially can be very tough on the customer side. Some also see the cost of the liquor as being chic, so that just adds to it, and encourages places to bump up new “specialty” or “premium” drinks. Plus a lot of people, if they’re drinking more than three, don’t really get the bill the the next morning when they sober up, but by the time they go out again it’s “Hey, were with friends. Sure let’s buy another round.” I think the increase of BYO in my are is an attempt to reverse what was a trend of people not going out at all with a reasonable corkage fee to make up for the “lost” alcohol revenue.
Again, I’d like to think that’s also a tip of the hat towards recognizing how expensive drinking out regularly can be, but I’ve a feeling once business picks up it’ll be back to the same ol’ ways. One other thing that gives me a little hope; talking with an owner about their half-price wine night, he was saying it really picked up his business to where he’s thinking of expanding it to additional nights. He typically marks up between 2x and 3x over retail so at worst he’s breaking even on a bottle and pulling in new and repeat business he wouldn’t otherwise have. If others are seeing that and getting the same boost it might encourage some to just lower their prices in general. I don’t flinch at picking up a large bill at the end of the night, it’s the food I’m really out for and at the high end that frequently comes with the territory. But if I can get good food and get sloshed for noticeably less, you’re a hell of a lot more likely to see me back sooner rather than later or not at all.
Here’s hoping for tipping points, I’ll drink to that!
On the side, that reminds me…
With some associates, I once paid some insane unjustifiable price, I want to say $34 but I think it was more, (certainly no gold floating, diamond at the bottom price, but still) for my martini at some trendy socialite bar we were dragged to by a client who wanted to thank us by showing off (I also noticed he didn’t start a tab). I paid, left, went several blocks to a neighborhood pub, put my bill on the counter and told the guy after that last one I need a drink and make it a double; he gave it to me on the house. I called the guy’s I’d left behind, told them where I was. We closed the place out drinking with the two bartenders and the owner somewhere around dawn. There still some good ones left. :)