Dear Eric: My brother-in-law is coming for a visit. He likes to drink very high-end alcohol.
As a host, how much do I have to provide? He can easily polish an entire bottle off in one night.
He is visiting for a week. My husband and I occasionally will have a glass of cheap red wine. I’m struggling being a good host and blowing my grocery budget.
– Teetotaler Host
Dear Host: As the guest, shouldn’t your brother-in-law be bringing you a fancy bottle of his favorite spirit as a thank you, not the other way around?
At most, you can buy one of his preferred bottles, as a gesture of hospitality. But guests shouldn’t come with contract riders. If you don’t have something he wants, he’s capable of stocking the bar himself. Sometimes, part of making oneself at home when visiting, is asking the host for directions to the liquor store.
(Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.)