Is it tight to skip buying rounds at the pub?

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Our note

On 29 October, The Drinks Business reported research by business lender Capital on Tap putting the average UK pint at £5.01. London was the most expensive place surveyed, at £7.00 a pint. For someone buying only their own drink, a round makes the cost land all at once.

The Budget on 28 October confirmed an alcohol duty rise in line with RPI from 1 February 2027, The Drinks Business reported. In a June 2025 YouGov poll of 6,587 British adults, 48% preferred buying their own drinks when out in a group, against 38% who preferred taking turns to buy rounds. The other 14% did not know. That tells me buying your own drink is a common preference.

A round evens out only if everyone stays long enough to take a turn. Leaving after buying one can mean paying for other people's drinks; leaving before your turn can mean receiving drinks without returning them. Pints and soft drinks can cost different amounts too. The useful distinction is between sharing the same bill and sharing the same cost.