I ask Eric: I can’t afford the expensive alcohol my brother-in-law drinks.

DEAR ERIC: My brother-in-law is coming to visit. He likes to drink very expensive alcohol. As a host, how much should I provide? It can easily polish an entire bottle in one night. He comes for a week. My husband and I drink a glass of cheap red wine from time to time. I struggle to be a good housekeeper and spend my grocery budget.

– Master of the teetotaler

DEAR HOST: Shouldn’t your brother-in-law bring you a fancy bottle of his favorite liquor as a guest as a thank you, and not the other way around?

At best, you can buy one of his favorite bottles as a sign of hospitality. But guests should not come with contract riders. If you don’t have what he needs, he’s capable of filling the bar himself. Sometimes, to feel at home during a visit, you need to ask the owner for directions to the liquor store.

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(Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or PO Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him at Instagram and subscribe to his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.)

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