Dinner with a date

 

Whoever asks for the date pays, regardless of gender¹.

 

Double Date Dinners

 

Split between couples, and whoever asked for each respective day pays.

 

Dinner with a boyfriend/girlfriend

 

Take turns treating each other, or split evenly.

 

Business dinners

 

The inviter should always pay. The businesses should pay when taking clients out.

 

Dinners with an acquaintance

 

Split evenly if the meals are closed in price. It's okay to ask for separate checks if one person's meal is much more expensive.

 

Dinner with a close friend

 

Split evenly if the meals are evenly in price. Sometimes close friends also take turns treating each other with the expectation that it will be one day reciprocated².

 

Birthday dinners

 

It's the tradition for everyone to pitch in for the guest of honor, but if you throw your own celebration, other people are not expected to pay for you.

 

Dinners with a coworker

 

Each person usually pays for what they ordered.

 

Dinner with a closed family member

 

Parents usually pay for their adult children, unless a child wants to make a gesture and cover the whole bill. With your siblings³, pay your own bills or take turns treating each other.

 

Dinner with in-laws

 

Handled on a case-by-case basis.

 

Typically, the most senior family member is expected to pay.

 

If the younger family members have much more means or want to make a special gesture, as in the case of meeting a boyfriend or girlfriend's parents for the first time, they might pick up the check.