Food is a precious commodity.
Hence why many people don’t take too kindly to people who waste their food.
Even so, we’ve all been guilty of our eyes being bigger than our stomachs, leaving food or drink unfinished.
It’s what we do with the unfinished food and drink that ultimately matters.
Redditor Dog-girl-1986 recently enjoyed a vacation with her family.
Things took an unexpected turn, however, during a nice dinner out, when her husband berated her for not finishing all that was in front of her.
When he demanded she leave her dishes empty, the original poster (OP) flatly refused.
Surprised and confused by her husband’s behavior, the OP took to the subReddit “Am I The A**hole” (AITA), where she asked fellow Redditors:
“AITA for ordering water at a restaurant?”
The OP explained why he felt her glass was definitely half-empty (and not half-full) at a recent dinner out:
“Some context, my husband and I make good money and live below our means generally.”
“We are currently enjoying a winter vacation in a mountain hotel (4000€ for the week approximately) hotel includes breakfast and dinner, but not drinks at dinner.”
“The hotel charges 4 euros for a litre of water (just tap water, but all the water in the mountain village comes from a spring).”
“Although I think this is a little much from the restaurant, it’s not something I let ruin my mood.”
“I have asthma, so after a day of being outside in the mountains, I’m generally extra thirsty.”
“At dinner, my husband made a remark about me drinking as much water yesterday as it costs to fill our pool at home.”
“We ordered a bottle of wine and water when we sat down to dinner, and during the dinner I ordered another water (same as yesterday).”
“My husband looked very upset when he came back from the restroom, and the water was brought to the table.”
“He didn’t refill his glass or drink any water after that.”
“After dessert, I finished my last sip of wine from my glass and my ice cream.”
“There was about a glass of water left in the glass water jug.”
“He asked me if I was finishing the water, and I said no, I wasn’t thirsty anymore and full from the five-course dinner.”
“He then proceeded to berate me for ordering water if I wasn’t going to finish it.”
“He then poured himself a glass of water and finished it in one slug.”
“I told him I found it petty that he was so upset about it.”
“He told me I should have asked first to order water (if anybody wanted more), keep in mind our four-year-old’s glass was also empty.”
“I told him I’m a grown woman and I’ll order water if I’m thirsty.”
“But I’m not being made to feel bad for leaving a little at the end of the dinner if everybody had had their fill.”
“So am I the a**hole for ordering water for the table knowing I would drink the majority of the liter myself?”
Fellow Redditors weighed in on where they believed the OP fell in this particular situation, by declaring:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
The Reddit community resoundingly agreed that the OP was not the a**hole for not finishing her water.
Everyone agreed that the behavior of the OP’s husband was worrisomely controlling, wondering why he was so fixated on not finishing water that cost a scintilla of what they were paying for their vacation:
“NTA.”
“This is such a weird hill for your husband to choose.”
“Is something else going on with y’all?”- Fatt3stAveng3r
“NTA.”
“That bottle of wine probably cost way more the 4 euro.”
“What a weird thing to be mad about when dropping 1000x more money on a vacation.”-thenexttimebandit
“NTA and holy cow, is your husband always this controlling?”
“Over €4 or €4000, it makes no difference.”
“By this same logic, no one should order a meal if they don’t intend to finish every single bite (ridiculous).”
“I bet that European mountain spring water is super delicious — order an extra bottle for me tonight.”- dufusbozo9000
“NTA.”
“You guys spent $4k on a hotel for a week, but he wants to throw fits about $4 water bottles?”
“Nah.”- iFLED
“NTA.”
“If you can afford a €4000 vacation, wine, and dessert with dinner, you can afford €4 for water.”
“Your husband is being weirdly cheap.”
“It’s important to drink water, especially at high altitudes, dehydration is dangerous at that altitude and the dry air makes it worse.”- CestLaquoidarling
“NTA.”
“Your husband is a major one, though.”
“If he’s so hard pressed over 4 euro for some water that he has to bully and berate you while you stay in a multi-thousand dollar resort, you have a husband problem.”- Discount_Mithral
“NTA.”
“But seriously?”
“Is your husband like this usually?”
“Or is it specific to paying for water?”
“If it’s an automatic response to paying for tap water (which really should be free), and sees that he’s been overreacting, then okay.”
“But otherwise it’s a big overreaction on his part.”- AcanthisittaThat5746
“Water!?”
“In this economy?!?”
“NTA.”
“A 4000 euro vacation isn’t what he’s stressing about, but the water?”
“Or maybe he is stressed.”
“Idk.”
“But there’s something else going on.”
“Is he feeling insecure in his job?”- nasnedigonyat
“NTA.”
“What is going on with the husband?”
“His actions don’t make sense.”- Jeff998g
“You are definitely NTA.”
“Please know that.”
“I suspect this isn’t about water.”- misslo718
“NTA.”
“If he’s stressed over finances, why did he agree to book an expensive vacation?”
“Is this a pattern with him?”
“Is he always this controlling?”- HowlPen
“NTA.”
“Order what you want.”
“He is being childish in front of the literal child.”- RainInTheWoods
“NTA.”
“First, paying for water (even tap) in Europe is pretty normal.”
“Second, people order things and don’t finish them all the time.”
“Lots of countries/restaurants don’t have ‘takeout’, so if you don’t finish the whole meal or your drink, you can’t just put it in a box/cup to take home.”
“They don’t discount it just because you ate less; it’s still the same price.”
“He’s being petty over a glass of water, out of a whole pitcher worth.”
“It would be the same as leaving a handful of French fries on the plate because you were full.”
“Should you not have ordered them at all if you couldn’t eat the whole order?”
“No.”
“You consumed what you wanted, and the rest can be eaten/drank by someone else in the family or left at the restaurant.”- Sheer-kei
“NTA.”
“And this is coming from someone whose family usually never wastes a single drop of drink or a bit of food at the table.”
“We would force ourselves to finish it or at least pack it to bring home and finish later.”
“Still, none of us would overreact as your husband did at the bit of water left in the jug.”
“Which begs the question, what is truly wrong?”
“Did something else happen?”
“Has something else been happening for a while now?”
“Has he done this with other things before or is this truly the first time?”
“Ask yourself these questions, and if it is safe to do so, have a calm conversation with him about it.”
“I hope it is something that can be resolved and not the start of another story of abuse.”
“Good luck, OP, and stay safe.”- MeerkatMagnificent
“NTA – and WTF?”
“He’ll order an entire bottle of wine but has gripes over a 4 euro bottle of water?”
“That’s so bizarre.”
“This has to be a symptom of a bigger problem with him or with your relationship.”- StrategyAncient6770
“NTA.”
“It’s WATER.”
“You need it to live, and I never subscribe to ‘the hotel has great water in your room’ – yeah, in the bathroom, and that faucet is gonna be a no-go from me.”
“This is just a normal holiday expense in Europe and, frankly, he sounds nutso.”- Beatrix-the-floof
“No NTA, it’s water, how tf do people complain so god damn much?”- Andras1100
“NTA Your husband is okay paying $4000 Euro for a week’s stay, but is squawking about $4 Euros for a bottle of water?”
“Sounds petty to me,’A Happy wife is a happy life’.”- RenaissanceMan1963
“NTA!”
“If the expense of a bottle of water or even x10 bottles is so crippling to him, then the holiday is unaffordable in his mind.”
“I like VOSS water in the huge glass bottle, yes, it’s stupid expensive in a bar (more than the same in beer) but… IT IS MY CHOICE!”
“Do you ever question the prices to 100ml ratio on everything he drinks?”
“I guess no!”
“He is trying to control you by limiting your purchase choices.”
“BIG RED FLAG!”- ProlapseProvider
If this is how the OP’s husband reacts to an unfinished glass of water, one can’t help but share the Reddit community’s concerns at what else might go on in this marriage…