WE’VE all had that morning-after dread of looking at the bank app to see the damage caused by a boozy night before.
But it’s not just lack of willpower to blame – pubs and bars secretly use all sorts of tricks to get us to part with cash.
Our interactive graphic below reveals how pubs are getting you to spend more money and why you should never order through the app[/caption]
“These sneaky tactics mean you could be paying hundreds more a year than you mean to,” says consumer expert Martyn James.
Rosie Taylor has some sobering tips to help you stay in budget at the boozer.
UPSELLING TRICK
IF you ask for a spirit or wine at the bar, you’ll likely be asked if you want a double or a large glass.
Bar managers know this is an easy way to encourage punters into spending more.
“For customers, it’s not just about getting a physically bigger glass of wine or a stronger spirit-based drink, it’s about what it represents,” says Dr Jenna Vyas-Lee, a clinical psychologist from Kove Minds clinic, in London.
“We say ‘yes’ to a bigger or stronger drink because we want to be seen as more fun and relaxed and not stingy.”
Beware of falling into the trap of thinking buying a double will save you money.
While some pubs charge less for a double than buying two separate singles, this is only cost-effective if you drink a double at half the speed, warns consumer expert Martyn James.
“Making a drink ‘large’ is a false economy because you drink it just as quick,” he says. “If it’s £4 a shot and you go large just twice a week for a year, that’s £416.”
TIP: Sticking with singles can save you half the cost, as well as reducing your hangover.
NEVER ORDER THROUGH YOUR APP
LOADS of pub chains, including Wetherspoons, Greene King and Young’s, have apps which let you order drinks and food to your table.
These are popular as you can avoid the hassle of waiting at the bar for your tipple — but it’s easy to fall into the trap of spending more, says Dr Jenna.
“When ordering becomes a smoother process, it can be easier to be impulsive and get something else,, which gives us a dopamine, aka happy hormone, hit.”
Apps will often display pop-ups or a list of “add to basket” suggestions of extra items as a way of nudging customers into buying more.
Watch out for service charges. For example, Urban, which has pubs around London, adds a 12.5 per cent fee.
TIP: Order at the bar instead to steer clear of accidental overspending.
AVOID TEMPTING EYE-LEVEL OPTIONS
IT’S not easy to make savvy money decisions at the pub, especially if you’ve had a few.
That’s why pubs often put more expensive mixers, wines and beers at eye level in the hope you’ll pick the first option you see, instead of asking for the cheapest option.
Order at the bar instead to steer clear of accidental overspending[/caption]
We may also be tempted to splash out if we see premium brands, says Dr Vyas-Lee.
“We go on a night out with the idea we’re looking to buy an experience,” she says.
“It feels like a rare opportunity where it’s OK, and even encouraged, to be self-indulgent and to spoil ourselves.”
TIP: Ask what the “house” version of any drink is to get the best prices and don’t pick the first brand you see.
ORDERING A BOTTLE ISN’T ALWAYS BEST VALUE
TEMPTED by the wine list placed on your table?
Think twice — you might be spending more than you want to by ordering a bottle.
A 75cl bottle of wine now costs a hefty £24.40 on average, according to the Office for National Statistics — up five per cent from £23.14 last year.
Crunch the numbers to see if ordering a bottle is actually worth it.
The general rule of thumb is that if you’re planning on drinking more than four medium (175ml) glasses of wine between two people, it is more cost-effective.
Even better, see if your boozer sells carafes (a 500ml jug), says Martyn, as these often work out much cheaper per glass than a bottle.
For example, the menu for Cozze restaurants in Reading lists a 500ml carafe of Montepulciano red wine for £18.50 (or £9.25 per 250ml glass). But the bottle of the same wine costs £28, or £9.33 per glass.
TIP: Ask for a carafe, or order by the glass to control spending.
TIME-LIMITED OFFERS AREN’T A GOOD DEAL
PUBS will flog a wide variety of deals to get punters through the door, like 2-for-1 on drinks, happy hours and bundle deals like “beer and a burger”.
These offers are often only available for a short period of time — often at quieter times of the day when we wouldn’t normally order lots of drinks or a big meal.
Research shows loud music and bright lighting can encourage punters to drink faster and buy more rounds[/caption]
Dr Vyas-Lee says this limited time period encourages us to spend when we don’t need to.
She says: “We are very susceptible to the idea of scarcity — that’s the idea that if we don’t seize the deal, we will miss out. But it’s only a good deal if you were going to buy it anyway.”
For example, at Wetherspoons in Leeds City Station, customers can buy an all-day brunch and a soft or alcoholic drink for £6.97 or £8.50 with the Afternoon Deal menu — which only runs from 2pm to 5pm.
At other times, the full price is £10.31 and £11.84 respectively.
TIP: Time-limited deals are only good value if you need to buy a meal or drink at that time. If you don’t, you might end up spending more than you need.
SETTING THE MOOD
IF the vibes are great at your local and you find you’re spending money like water, it’s not a coincidence.
Research shows loud music and bright lighting can encourage punters to drink faster and buy more rounds.
Dr Jenna explains this is because the atmosphere of a room can affect our judgement.
“Loud music and coloured lighting are very stimulating for our brains,” she explains. “When we’re over-stimulated, it can reduce our impulse control, making us more likely to spend unwisely.”
TIP: Find a quieter area and sit outside or near a window with natural light, which helps calm the nervous system.
