DEAR ABBY: I quit drinking three years ago. I realized I had a problem, addressed it, and I'm now sober. I never was a big drinker socially. I drank alone.
When I go out with friends for dinner, they usually rack up a large liquor bill, which is evenly split. Occasionally, I'll ask that the liquor portion of the bill be subtracted from my tab, but doing so makes me feel awkward.
I enjoy going out with these people, but I don't want to add another 20 to 25 percent to my tab. What's your advice for addressing this situation? -- SOBER IN THE SOUTH
DEAR SOBER: Congratulations on your sobriety. A way to avoid being charged for the liquor your friends consume would be to quietly advise the server at the start of the dinner that you would like a separate check.