I hardly ever go out other than drinking but going out is such a huge part of all society. I’ve always refused to go out with colleagues because I can’t expect a team of work colleagues to always go to the one restaurant I know is save. Have you got any ideas how many fights with superiors and HR that got me in because “that’s part of the work culture and team spirit” and I’m always “the complicated one”? Restaurants aren’t just a luxury. As I said, I hardly ever go out, but try having any career when you’re the only one who never joins for work lunches or after-work dinner. Or your friends birthday. Or the meeting of the friendgroup.

Going out to eat is deeply ingrained in our culture and it has serious effects on your social life if you refuse to do it.