Sure, because if the host doesn't want alcohol for anyone, they'll *say* it's a booze-free event, otherwise they'll just drink soda-pop or fruit juice while everyone else does beer and wine.

But... if you're not sure, because the host is known to be too shy to articulate his real desires, you can prod for a position statement by saying, "Are you volunteering to be the designated driver, or should we draw straws?"

That usually gets them to say if they'd like it to be booze-free overall, or if it's just a personal thing, because they'll say something along the lines of how they don't want to be the designated driver, but it's not fair to another person who might want to drink to be drafted into being the DD, which means you'll know what they're pushing for if they don't extend that opinion with a qualifying statement like, "Maybe there will be someone else who doesn't want to drink, so ask around first, and if there is anyone, then tell me, and we'll hang together, otherwise you'll have to draw straws."

If they do qualify the offer of a draw with a statement like that, they won't care if you bring wine, but if they wish-wash about how it's not fair to someone to have a draw, it means they'd really rather nobody drink.

But *normally* they'll just tell you if it's a booze-free event or not... after you *ask* if it's booze-free, which you *should* ask, if you happen to know the host doesn't drink!

In my opinion it would be rude. For whatever reason the host doesn't drink (AA, religious, just dont care to drink alcohol, etc...) you shouldn't bring alcohol into their home.

There are all sorts of other gifts you can bring rather than the usual bottle if wine. Some fresh bread from your favorite bakery, flowers for the table, music to add to the atmosphere perhaps. If you just ask the host what would they think appropriate for the evening.

If the host doesn't drink, unless he or she specifies that guests should provide their own alcohol or that alcohol will still be served, I would not bring wine. While I do not think it is rude per se, I do think that you need to respect other people's lifestyles, and if they do not drink, you should not bring alcohol into their home unless you know they keep it on hand to serve to guests.

If you are in doubt at all, I would recommend asking the host or hostess what their preferences are. Knowing the host doesn't drink, I would assume that you did not plan on bringing the wine as a gift, so asking if you can bring wine for the drinkers at the dinner should not be offensive. And regardless of whether you bring wine or not, bring flowers or a nice candle or something to show your appreciation.

When I take a gift to a dinner party, its usually a gift for the host/hostess. I wouldn't expect my bottle of wine to be opened there and then. If it is then thats OK but maybe the menu has fish as the main course, in that case my bottle of a full bodies Shiraz wouldn't really go well with it. So I'd be very happy if the hosts served a bottle of their own wine and enjoyed mine later.

In this case, as the host doesn't drink they aren't going to be able to enjoy my gift so I'd bring something else such as flowers or chocolates. Its a nice way to say thank you for the meal, so I'd want to get something that they'd really enjoy.

I would ask the host before showing up with a bottle of wine, or any other alcoholic beverage. He may have health reasons or hold religious views that don't allow it. He may just not want to deal with drunken guests and the responsibility that ensues. He may not drink because he's on probation and isn't allowed to have alcohol in his home. For whatever reason, I would respect wishes and not bring the wine if he said he preferred that I didn't. Whether the other guests drink or not isn't the issue. It's not their home.

The problem is, a lot of people who "don't drink" do not because they have the alcoholic gene and know it. Usually, people like that don't want to say they are alcoholics for fear of the stigma attached to such a label, but they will tell people they don't drink, so as to kind of disuade people from offering them drinks or drinking in front of them.

This is not the case always, however, so it's a touchy situation. Best case scenario, he doesn't drink because he just doesn't like it and you bring wine and everyone's merry and happy. Worst case scenario is he's secretly a raging alcoholic who has been sober for awhile and you bring wine and it triggers him to drink and he relapses. Alcoholism is essentially that person's disease and they have to be able to deal with that disease on their own, but I really wouldn't want to be the triggering mechanism that sends someone into a relapse.

So, just to be on the safe side, I wouldn't, just to be respectful of possibility that he may be alcoholic. I mean, if you really, really, really have to drink for this dinner, just have a couple of glasses before you go.