DEAR ABBY: I often eat out with friends when we travel and when we're here at home. Some of them bring their own canned drinks or powdered drink mix to add to water served by the restaurant. I have an uneasy feeling about this. I don't think it is right to take my own drink into an eating establishment.
I have never said anything negative about it, but I haven't joined in the practice. Is my discomfort my problem? What do you think about this? -- TESTY SOUTHERN BELLE
DEAR BELLE: What I think about it is less important than what the restaurant does, and not knowing the reason your friends behave this way, I am hesitant to judge them. I'm not sure what kind of canned or powdered drink your friends are bringing, but if they are on some kind of restricted diet, then it's what they need to do for a while. If the restaurant objected, the manager would either tell your friends not to do it anymore or institute a charge to make up for the lost income.