EoFF Meet UP! (AKA the International Meet Up Catering Thrad)

[Shorty]

It won't be fancy food, I can assure you xD something most everyone likes or can agree with at a good price. (so no steaks, asses)

[Shauna]

The finest lobster and caviar.

[Mirage]

I'm suggesting that we all bring as much alcohol as you need to get yourself comfortably drunk, but in two parts. One part that is just for you, and one part that you add to a common pool of beverages that everyone else is free to try. Let's all try to bring something exciting for the "share with others" part!

As for food, i'll just eat whichever kebabs they sell around where we happen to hang out.

I'll probably bring a mix of rum and local craft beers.

[Shorty]

HEY GUYS WE LIKELY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BRING ALCOHOL INTO ANY ESTABLISHMENTS PLEASE REFERENCE THE NINE HUNDRED OTHER POSTS I HAVE MADE ABOUT THIS

[noxious.sunshine]

I'm pretty sure mixing whiskey into a bottle of coca cola will fly.

I've done this many many many many many times.

[Crop]

In doing some research on prices, I've read that open bars usually range from $17 - $35 a head. Even if we got the best deal at $17 a head, with a 50 person attendance that still puts us as $850 for the cost of an open bar. I have no idea if this includes the bartender's wages and tips or no. Unless we get some incredibly charitable benefactor to donate a ridiculous amount of money, I am thinking that it is probably not an option.

If this or something similar to this turns out to be the case, I'd be happy with footing the bill in that price range.

If it indeed does turn into a venue event (I hope it does) then I think it would be easier for everyone to have as much or as little alcohol as possible to suit them. At least that would be one of many organising headaches out of the way.

[Jiro]

Holy crap. How much do you people plan on drinking? I don't think we need to plan around all attendees drinking 15 drinks each. Surely it would be more cost effective to just buy what you want. Last time I went to this kind of "open bar" bar, everyone pitched in like $50 and I managed to get one gin out of that before everybody else drank the lot, so I'm far from ecstatic about paying for everyone else to get troutfaced. I haven't even had a glass of anything since January, so sign me up for the non-drinkers section.

[Shorty]

We should all start making bets around forums-related things in the form of gambling for drinks.

[Parker]

forum drinking games:

down a shot for each paragraph in an iceglow post

*everybody dies*

[Mirage]

I was hoping we'd be able to have like a house party where we just consumed whatever.

[Iceglow]

As you're heading to my neck of the woods and out of the members here in London, I suspect I probably have more experience both because I'm older and go out drinking/socialising more often than most. I wanted to address some of the points you've made in this thread.

Yeah, but I tape the bag to my thigh, get extra long tubing for the nozzle, snake it through my dress. They'll never be the wiser.

I'm pretty sure mixing whiskey into a bottle of coca cola will fly.

I've done this many many many many many times.

Many, if not all venues will have door security performing bag and physical searches for security reasons, such as narcotics, drink and weapons. Most places will have a female door staff member responsible for providing pat downs on women. Don't get offended but it's a possibility. Additionally, most places won't even let a pack of chewing gum in as it means they wind up with it stuck all over the floor. Pre-mixing spirits in to coke or lemonade is fine for drinking outside the venue/bar/club but once you're lining up to enter, that stuff needs to be gone. Frankly the taping a goon bag to your leg is just bloody ridiculous.

Also, remember what I said about bringing your own alcohol - more than likely not an option because places either restrict it or charge you an outrageous fee for it. There is no one in the area with the size of a house to match John Travolta's suites, so we can't just hole up in someone's family room to purchase a bunch of beer and liquor and set up shop there. One way or another, we are going to be paying to drink.

We'll also be in London, so your drink expectations might need to be lowered on that account as well.

I really hope you guys can move past this alcohol thing. This isn't the time or place to get smashed off our asses or to focus on alcohol - if we book a string of hotel rooms, we can all have fun with booze that way, or at happy hour the next day, or literally at any other time when drinking will be cheaper. Pre-game before the event, sneak it in your purse in a flask or a water bottle, dude bring it in with your jackets, I don't care what you do. If you want to drink via the venue wherever we are, you will need to pay for them.

This is fair enough. Location will be key, if we're in Central London, you will likely pay more. However, you can minimize this by picking bars and clubs out based on the area we'll be in. Closer to the time (in case of changes) and once I know where exactly we'll be doing things I will be able to scout bars and prices to provide detailed knowledge and help on that front, it will be a tough task but someone will have to go drinking for this .

At the moment, I can provide you an estimate of the range of prices for drinks in London. 2 pints in the Acorn20 (Kingston, work local), will cost me around £7. Shot and Mixer will vary depending on drink but a double shot and mixer will normally cap out at about £4.50 - £6.00. Wine is about £5 - £6 a glass (large). That being said, an expensive bar like The Old Frizzle will cost about £11 for 2 pints and a beer and large wine will cost in excess of £15.

I can't remember who mentioned it but someone indicated that pubs in London may not be able to accommodate a large group of say 50. This is unlikely to be true as many pubs will handle it just fine. Though in some areas it may be ideal for me to arrange a group booking in so we'll have tables and everyone will be able to go in. Of course, as I said in the main thread, if you do not bring ID such as passport, drivers license, european union id card, even if you are over 25, I have little hope of you getting in to a bar or club. This is because many bars now scan your ID not only to verify age but also to have a record of you on file. This means if you commit a crime, or need medical attention from passing out etc they can provide the relevant authorities information such as your name and age to get you appropriate assistance quickly.

forum drinking games:

down a shot for each paragraph in an iceglow post

*everybody dies*

I'll make several extra long posts just for you. With many, short but sweet paragraphs.

[Iceglow]

Hahaha, I figured you were but hey, can never be sure. Side note, based on my post above and the mention of how strict door security is here. If you happen to need medication at all which must be taken like every 2 hours or so. I would suggest obtaining a note from your doctors on letter headed paper indicating what it is you take exactly and what for and keeping it in your wallet/purse. That way if you do need to take pills/epi-pens or whatever in with you you should be fine, again closer to the time, when we know where exactly it'll be going on and I've scouted some bars, I can also speak to management of some venues on their stance concerning this to make sure things flow smoothly.

Normally, any drivers license will be fine so long as it contains your name, date of birth and photo. Though as said, I will check the area closer to the time and speak to various bar owners and bouncers about the ID they will accept and if they'd need us to pre-book.

Please note, based on BoB's rep comment, the pubs I quoted are not the cheapest of bars, they're not wetherspoons or other major chains. These are individual pubs. However, The Old Frizzle which is where I normally take dates I want to impress and do not plan on being very drunk with is notoriously a pricey bar even amongst Londoners. Acorn20 prices listed of about £3.70 - £4.00 a pint (depending on beer brought) is more "A Typical" but not a minimum/rule.

[Mirage]

£3-4 for a pint sounds moderately below norway prices. I think I'll be perfectly fine

[Iceglow]

£3-4 for a pint sounds moderately below norway prices. I think I'll be perfectly fine

Yeah, I like the Nordic people and really want to go over and see a lot more of the places but frankly the cost of a night out there is astounding. Especially since European beers are generally smaller than a pint as well.

[Shauna]

I never said that a pub/whatever wouldn't be able to accommodate 50 people. The first time it was implied this was ever said, I let it slide, but this time I certainly won't! x}

It was said that we should just go into a pub and get drunk instead of doing any advance planning, I was saying we would need prior planning/booking because I doubt we could just wander into a random pub as a group of 50 on the spur of the moment and expect that we will find a place for us all. Ideally we want somewhere for us all to be so we can intermingle and actually well, meet everyone. :3