How does food/beer kitty work?

This topic was created by onmyway
[Sat 15 May, 1:27 Tasmanian Standard Time]

Ready for a stupid one? I don't quite understand exactly how the food/beer kitty system works on an organized trip. Does everybody put the same amount in for the beer? I'm a lush and after a long, hot day of hiking like to knock back beer after beer: that doesn't seem too fair if a tea-totaler puts in the same amount but only has one or two. How exactly does this usually work and what is the usual kitty amount per day? Thanks and sorry for ignorance...

[There are 5 posts - the latest was added on Wed 19 May, 22:16]

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  1. No Beer! Added by: Jo
    [Timestamp: Sat 15 May, 1:33 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    On an organised trip the kitty does not generally cover alcohol. It might cover at the end of a trip a bottle of amarula cream or something for everyone to share, but definitely not beer which as you say one person might have a dozen a night, one might have a can every couple of days. On a trip what most people do, is get the drinkers together, and the have their own kitty. Or else just buy what you drink.



  2. Nothing like a Sundowner... Added by: African Dreamer
    [Timestamp: Sat 15 May, 2:03 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    ...on a beautiful African evening, especially after some
    kind of exersion during the long hot day... The way our bar
    tab worked was different to the food kitty. We all started
    out by tossing in 20USD or there abouts in the relevent
    currency, then the elected drinks steward/barperson set out
    to spend said money on liquid refreshment this included
    soft drinks (coke, lemonaide, tonic etc) beer and in Zim we
    managed to find some neat little individual shot serves of
    spirits. We then calculated a selling price of each item
    in the bar and we ran a tab when supplies were getting low
    or we were heading out into the bush for an extended period
    of time we totalled up everyones bar-tab, those in credit
    had the opportunity to kick in with some more money if they
    were low and those in debt paid up so stocks could be
    replentished. At the end of the trip there were a couple of
    decissions to be made 1. have a party and drink the stocks
    2. sell the stocks to the crew to sell to the next group or
    3. let the stocks rundown in the last few days so there
    wouldn't be anything left over at the end. Those still in
    credit were paid by those in debt when final tabs were
    totalled and the bar closed...
    Have a great trip but don't get written off every night
    you'll miss too much.



  3. separated Added by: Meta
    [Timestamp: Sat 15 May, 2:55 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    I agree with Jo. The kitty only covers food and usually
    people buy her/his personal drinks (soft or beer). It
    doesn't mean that the special punch for some 'happy hours'
    are paid separately but shared, as it is also to share a
    taste of local drinks, as for example a bottle of Amarula.



  4. Beer and ice Added by: Shane (shanemcg@camtech.net.au)
    [Timestamp: Sun 16 May, 12:27 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    Hi,
    Some reasonable ideas above. What I have done on my trips is
    that we just buy our own beer / spirits. Usually we had wine
    supplied by the Safari company for those that wanted it with
    the evening meals. Those who liked to sit around the
    campfire having a few beers supplied their own. You can get
    beer at the Nature Conservation Shops at park entrances in
    RSA, Nam, Bots, Zim and Zam. You can get beer and cold
    drinks at shops called 'Drankwinkel' (sp?) or 'Bottle
    Stores'.
    On good idea for a kitty is that someone should buy ice
    every day to keep your beer, water, juice cool. On my first
    trip we had two trucks travelling together and I organised a
    n ice roster on our truck and so we had cold drinks at all
    times, the others didn't. Now this sounds trivial but isn't
    if you a travelling around in 40 degree C conditions - you
    need to drink to keep hydrated and drinking water / coke /
    lemonade that is as hot as your truck's radiator is no fun!
    Hope this helps
    Cheers!
    Shane



  5. WHAT... Added by: cotton-wool brain
    [Timestamp: Wed 19 May, 22:16 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    is amarula cream?
    Please tell - sounds rather good!




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