The Italian Way vs. The Aussie Approach: A Bill Splitting Debate Unpacked
A common dining experience in Australia has sparked a lively debate, highlighting a cultural difference in how restaurant bills are settled. An Italian waitress, who has made her home in Melbourne after relocating from Tuscany, shared her observations on a practice she finds "annoying" and "weird" – the meticulous itemisation of bills among friends.
Alice, working in a bustling Italian eatery, explained that while splitting a bill evenly is not an issue, the insistence on paying only for what each individual consumed is a stark contrast to her upbringing.
"As an Italian waitress... here's the thing that shocked me most and the reason why we don't do this in Italy," she candidly shared in a widely viewed video. "We're going to talk about the habit of splitting the bill. I'm talking about that annoying part of the night where people are like, 'Oh I had three glasses of wine, you had four so I should pay less' or 'I ate two chips less than you so I'm going to put $5 less'."
"Alla Romana": The Roman Method of Bill Splitting
In Italy, the prevailing custom is known as "alla romana," which translates to the Roman way. This method involves dividing the total cost of the bill equally among all individuals at the table, irrespective of their individual orders. Paying for specific items is far less common in Italian social dining.
"You just split the bill by however many people are at the table," Alice elaborated. "You are having dinner with six people, the amount is the total you just divide it by six."
The rationale behind this approach, Alice explained, is rooted in the understanding of ongoing friendships and shared social experiences.
"The reason why we do that is especially because if you're going out with a group of friends who you're usually hanging out with, this is not the only time you're going to have dinner with those people, right?" she reasoned.
"Maybe that night you're driving so you're not drinking as much as they are - so sure you are spending less money. But maybe the next time, someone else will be driving so they will drink less."
This philosophy suggests that over time, these minor financial discrepancies naturally balance out. If one person pays slightly more on one occasion, they might pay less on another, ensuring an equitable distribution of costs within the group over the long term.
"So for this dinner, I am paying $20 more than what I should but the next one the same thing will happen to another person. Maybe you didn't drink that much but you had dessert and they didn't," Alice noted.
Her video resonated with many, garnering over 60,000 views and a significant number of supportive comments.
Voices of Agreement
Many viewers expressed solidarity with Alice's perspective:
- "I agree. It's so embarrassing when my friends want to divide it up. Then I have other friends where we fight to pay the whole bill," one commenter shared.
- "Yes this is very embarrassing indeed. When people go out in groups, you should order shared plates so everyone pays evenly. Especially fancy restaurants, you should never try to split bills," another suggested.
- "I fully agree just split evenly, I feel like it all comes out in the wash. I get you and you get me, we have the rest of our lives to eat dinner with each other - it will all work out," one explained.
- "The pettiness with money is a very Australian thing," another added with a touch of humour.
Counterarguments and the Cost of Living
However, the "alla romana" approach is not universally embraced in Australia, with some diners firmly defending their right to pay only for what they consume, particularly in the current economic climate.
"We're in a cost of living crisis and everyone's budget is different. If I order a glass of water and some garlic bread then that's what I'm paying for," one Australian retorted.
This sentiment was echoed by others who highlighted the fairness aspect when orders vary significantly:
- "Sorry. I don't drink. I'm happy to split food evenly, and drinks can be individual," another proposed.
- "If the meal is a shared meal, then yes, split it down the middle. But I'm not going to pay for Joanna's $30 cocktail, John's $50 steak and Jason's $60 lobster," one individual stated.
- "I would absolutely agree for the majority of the time, but I hate when that one person orders more expensive things because they expect it to be split evenly by everyone at the table," another shared.
- "The cost of eating out in Australia is higher than most places, we're also in a cost of living crisis where lots of people are struggling to pay rent and just exist. If someone gets a $20 meal and no drinks and others get like $80 worth of food, how is that fair to split it evenly?" another pointed out.
- "I always get ripped off splitting a bill. If I'm a designated driver and they get hammered I'm doing them a favour and yet I pay more? Nah," one added.
Alternative Australian Practices
Despite the differing views on bill splitting, some Australians shared their own methods for managing group payments to ensure individual fairness:
- "A lot of times when we go out in groups one person pays the whole lot, and then we transfer them the cost of what we ate/drank. Just a normal thing, I don't want people to pay more if I had more, and vice versa," one revealed. This method, while requiring a bit of post-meal accounting, ensures everyone pays for their specific consumption without the immediate table-side calculations.
A Fellow Italian's Perspective
Reinforcing Alice's cultural viewpoint, another Italian chimed in from afar: "As a fellow Italian, I 100 per cent agree with you. My friends and I always fight because we all want to pay the bill. We all take turns and it ends up even one way or another. And no one cries over 50 dollars like come on... live your life."
The debate underscores how deeply ingrained cultural norms can influence even the simplest of social rituals, such as sharing a meal and settling the bill. While the "alla romana" method prioritises communal harmony and long-term balance, the Australian preference for individual accountability often stems from practical considerations and a desire for immediate financial fairness, especially in challenging economic times.
No comments:
Post a Comment