Where is the closest liquor store?‌‌

[Laura2592]

Does it deliver? I forgot my supply. (first questions after check in.) 

Ay yi yi. This is going to be fun. We leave guests a bottle of wine if they say they drink it (this one did.) And there are some small bottles of rum from a guest who visited a local distillery and left them for us. That should get them through until tomorrow. But what do I know? SIngle guest BTW.  

[Tommy150]

I love how absolutely lazy people have become. It's like I know you have a smartphone Google it but we can't say that to them of course.

[Debra300]

@Tommy150,

I think @Laura2592 is more concerned about how the guest will behave during their implied drunken stay at the cottage, and what condition it will in when the guest leaves.  Since the guest is single, the other concern could be that the guest wants alcohol because he has plans to entertain folks who are not on the reservation.

[Laura2592]

@Debra300 yes exactly.  But beyond that liability.  What if the guest really is a single person and hurts themselves while drinking? I've just never had a stay start out this way. 

@Tommy150 it is also kind of lazy. Yes. And I honestly didn't know if there was anything that was close by because we always bring wine with us. @Anonymous  will be pleased to know I had to contact so-called Hot Neighbor for info. 

[Tommy150]

Well as for your alcohol shaming... Just because they want to get wine or booze doesn't mean that they have to entertain a party. 

Everytime I travel on pleasure, I'm single and I get wine and booze too. I enjoy relaxing with a few cocktails. I don't have parties or get crazy. Not everyone is a jackass when they drink...

[Debra300]

@Tommy150,

No alcohol shaming was implied, but you obviously inferred such. The cumulative interaction is concerning, and it does raise red flags.  The person's lack of preparedness, and unwillingness to find information for himself only heightens the alarm that his first communication after check-in is to say that he's run out of booze.  A guest must drive to @Laura2592's cottage, and there were opportunities to purchase supplies along the way.   

However, there are been several posts here on the CC from hosts who do not live onsite at their rentals about guests who claim a certain number of guests, and the number turns out to be more or they have visitors.  These types of hosts must remain sensitive to warning signs before things lead to an undesirable situation.

[Laura2592]

@Debra300exactly.

We left wine. There is some other alcohol in the house. There is no shaming. There is just enough for an individual serving and then some. We have bad weather in our region so if something were to happen it would be difficult to deal with right now. 

I would not start any visit with any host by asking where the booze happens to be. And I love wine and consume quite a bit. Its just a red flag. Like saying "hey, do you know where I can get some lighter fluid and logs?" in a listing that has duraflames only in the fireplace and leaves one for guests. You do wonder.

[Colleen253]

@Laura2592 Yes, it does raise the hackles a bit, an inquiry like that. A single guest for a short stay, needing more booze than should be enough for said single guest, it can only end badly. Either the guest gets hammered, or there is a party brewing. Either way, high likelihood to end badly.

[Laura2592]

@Colleen253I am hopeful it won't but have some concerns. The neighbors have an eye out and we have only seen one car on the Ring.

I had a guest whose first question after check in was "what happens if there is damage?" And that led to a very oblique conversation that did not disclose they actually broke a bed. The first bit of interaction can really set the host anxiety level.

[Colleen253]

Ugh, yes. Is there even such a thing as an anxiety free host anyway? We don't need interactions that just increase it!

[Anonymous]

@Laura2592  I could be wrong here, but I'm not seeing the red flags some others are here. Single guy hanging out alone in a cottage during a bout of bad weather and a pandemic - it doesn't seem too crazy that he might want to be stocked up on his favorite booze. Just because there's other alcohol in the house doesn't mean that it's exactly what he wants to drink - maybe he prefers beer, or doesn't share your taste in wine. 

[Melodie-And-John0]

@Anonymous , Ja Ja, Ein Hefeweissbier  Bitte!  

[Laura2592]

@Anonymous I hope you are right! We had a discussion prior to check in about favorite types of wine, and I do pick out food and wine with the guest's guidance. I could have gotten it wrong of course. 

This is a single female guest, not a male, not that it matters. 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Laura2592 It does matter as I think we ALL thought it would be a male guest. Oh dear it does suggest inane sexism in all of us (I think)

[Mark116]

@Anonymous  I agree.  When we used to meet guests in person we always told them where the closest liquor store(s) was along with grocery store and we have it printed in our house binder.  Although it is a bit lazy, I don't see it as a red flag at all.