'It just isn't fair': Aussies divided by controversial dining practice

No matter how much we progress as a society, the question of splitting the bill will always stop us in our tracks for fear of breaking social protocol.

It's a question that divides the nation, with an exclusive Nine poll finding Aussies are undecided on whether splitting the bill on a group dinner is expected or a social faux pas.

Many are staunchly against the practice, with 15 per cent of people who voted in the poll disagreeing with splitting the bill evenly.

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"Anyone who thinks they can just split the bill is insane. You pay for your own stuff!" said one participant.

"I hate the idea of 'just splitting the bill' especially for those conscious of their budgets who might only order certain items so as to not have to spend too much compared to others who order more freely and even more so when alcohol choices are involved," one pointed out.

"It just isn't a fair way to pay. It adds stress to my evening when it is an issue."

One voter added that there are exceptions to the rule: "If I wanted a group dinner, I would pay for it all. I could never ask my guests to pay since it was an invitation."

Twenty-six per cent said they'd get out the calculator at the dinner table to calculate individual portions.

"At a group dinner you should ask if you can pay separately before ordering," one suggested.

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"When you go out with a group just pay for everybody then they can pay you back after they leave the restaurant. It'll save arguing," another added.

However, a whopping 59 per cent of people were in favour of the controversial move.

"If you invited folks should be yours, but if it's an impromptu gathering of folks then splitting it is the way to go," one voter noted.

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"That split the bill thing is ok if you all have the same amount of food but its not fair when one doesn't have sweets or alcohol etc." another added.

One said, "The dinner bill would depend on the company you're in. If it's close friends and they have one course while others have two, I would try to make the bill split in a more equitable way. If it's associates, then just divide by the number of diners."

*The nine.com.au poll, which runs once a fortnight, canvases the views of the nine audience on 9Nation, which is an online community of our readers and Nine viewers.

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