AITAH for not wanting to split the bill evenly between 10 people?

A lively birthday dinner at a swanky restaurant promised fun, but for one couple, it ended in a heated debate over the check. A 28-year-old man and his girlfriend joined friends to celebrate, enjoying a few drinks and modest meals. But when the bill arrived, some wanted to split it evenly, ignoring that others had ordered far pricier items. His refusal to pay for their extravagance stirred tension at the table.

This clash highlights a common dining dilemma: who foots the bill when appetites and budgets don’t align? The man’s stand for fairness resonates with anyone who’s faced pressure to cover someone else’s tab. As the argument unfolded, questions of etiquette and friendship surfaced. Is it selfish to demand a fair split, or just common sense? Let’s unpack this tasty drama.

‘AITAH for not wanting to split the bill evenly between 10 people?’

So I m28 went out to get food for one of my girlfriends friends birthdays. We all decided to go to an expensive fancy restaurant. We were all having a good time laughing and enjoying ourselves. I decided to have a couple drinks and an average priced meal. My girlfriend decided to do the same thing.

But there was at least 4 individuals that decided to order twice as many drinks my girlfriend and I and a meal that was just more than double what I was paying for mine. When it was time for the bill a couple people wanted to split the bill evenly between the table to make it easier on the waiter.

Given what was ordered I protested and started an argument about how I’m not paying for other people’s meals and preferred to pay for what we ordered. I do think it’s worth noting that I do pretty decent financially. AITAH for just wanting to pay for my girlfriend and I food?

Group dinners can be a recipe for fun or frustration, especially when the bill arrives. This man’s pushback against an even split was a stand for fairness—why should he subsidize others’ lavish orders? The suggestion to split evenly often hides an attempt to offset high spenders’ costs, putting modest diners in a tough spot.

This issue reflects broader dining etiquette challenges. A 2023 survey by OpenTable found 62% of diners prefer separate checks for group meals to avoid disputes. The man’s protest aligns with this trend, prioritizing transparency over convenience.

Etiquette expert Elaine Swann advises, “Discuss payment plans before ordering to avoid surprises”. Her guidance suggests the group could have set expectations early. The man’s reaction, though heated, was valid—paying double his share wasn’t fair. To prevent future drama, he could request separate checks upfront or calmly state his stance early. What’s your go-to move for group dining bills? Join the discussion below!

Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:

Reddit served up a feast of opinions, with a side of shade for the big spenders. Here’s the community’s take, spicy and unfiltered:

Writing_D3mon − Splitting the bill evenly is always a scam.

MrAmishJoe − Inform your waiter when you’re at a restaurant with a group that you and your partner will be on your own bill. Remind them at bill time. When your friends are talking about splitting politely say oh we got our bill separate. Don’t ask it’s. State it. Conversation over, pay your bill. High five your friends and go home.

Really is that easy…. But when you wait until the group bill comes and everyone’s trying figure things out and math… none of that is your problem or concern… because you planned for this and kept your waitress informed of your intentions.. How somebody gonna be mad at you for having and paying for your own food?

Anonymoosehead123 − NTA. I swear, moochers have no boundaries on their grifting

[Reddit User] − NTA Pay for what you ordered. It doesn’t even need to be an argument. Just tell the waiter that you will only be paying for what you and your gf ordered.. If everyone else wants to split the rest evenly they can. Easy.

LSATDan − Not at all, but dude you're almost 30...do you really not know this one yet? Read my lips:

Objective_Attempt_14 − NTA, but always ask for separate checks at the start and you won't get looped into this crap.

Duo-lava − i dropped a whole ass friend group over this. i spent $13 + tip. they wanted to split and everyone would pay $35. i was the a**hole for being poor and not wanting to subsidise my better off friends

One_Instruction8635 − NTA. You’re not a walking Venmo. If they wanted someone to fund their liquid dinner, they should’ve brought their sugar daddy, not guilt-trip the guy who ordered like a responsible adult. Making it “easier for the waiter” is just code for “we know we overdid it and want to stick someone else with the bill.”

kdubstep − I was at a dinner like that. One guy was drinking high end scotch like a fish. Another guy ordered a seafood app intended for a group for himself and then a bone in ribeye. And then because he was trying to hit on the waitress ordered and expensive bottle of wine.

At that time I was plant based so my dinner was veggies and I’m a lightweight so I only had one glass of wine. When they suggested splitting evenly I looked at them and literally said “are you f**king kidding me?!”

-VWNate − NO . I have a rich buddy who likes to do this, he drinks a lot then tries to give me the \*exact\* amount shown on the menu .. Drunks are \_always\_ like this .. After two times I learned to insist upon separate checks, no excuses .. \-Nate

These Redditors aren’t buying the “easy split” excuse, but is it always a scam or just poor planning? The internet’s got thoughts, and they’re dishing them out!

This dinner drama leaves us chewing on questions of fairness and friendship. The man’s refusal to overpay protected his wallet but ruffled feathers. How do you navigate group bills when wallets don’t match appetites? Share your stories below—what would you do when the check lands? Let’s keep the conversation sizzling!

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