If the place is packed it still wouldn’t change anything for the business. It’s not like OP’s spot at the table would be occupied by a random patron, it’d be an empty chair at the table that OP’s friends are sitting at. But yeah I can’t imagine being that frugal and still going to bars. I would either invite everybody to go some place free (the park when it’s nice out, my place if it’s close enough) or indeed just buy a drink every now and then.
If the place is packed it still wouldn’t change anything for the business. It’s not like OP’s spot at the table would be occupied by a random patron, it’d be an empty chair at the table that OP’s friends are sitting at. But yeah I can’t imagine being that frugal and still going to bars. I would either invite everybody to go some place free (the park when it’s nice out, my place if it’s close enough) or indeed just buy a drink every now and then.