Who's buying the drinks wheel
The oldest argument at the bar, solved in one spin. Names in, spin, and whoever the wheel picks is at the bar. Works on your phone, so you can do it standing in the queue.
Type, paste or delete to change the wheel. It redraws as you go, and your list is kept on this device only. Up to 200 entries.
How to use it without falling out
- Agree the list before you spin. Adding someone afterwards is how arguments start.
- Everyone watches the spin. A result reported second hand is never accepted.
- One spin, one round. Best of three defeats the whole point.
- Tick Remove the winner after each spin so nobody buys two while someone else buys none.
- Whoever suggested the wheel goes on the wheel. No exceptions.
Why it is fairer than taking turns
Taking turns sounds fair until you count it up. Someone always leaves early, someone always arrives after two rounds have gone in, and the person who bought the first round at half past six has quietly paid for the loudest member of the group.
A wheel with Remove the winner turned on fixes it properly. Over the night everybody gets picked exactly once before anyone gets picked twice, and there is no debate about whose turn it was.
Other things worth spinning for
The same wheel handles who is driving, who is booking the table, who is ringing for the taxi, and who is telling the group chat what the damage was. Clear the names and put those on the wheel instead if the question is what to do rather than who is doing it.
End of season is where it really earns its place. If the club kitty is behind the bar, the wheel is a decent way of deciding who gets to spend the next bit of it.
Where the kitty comes in
Plenty of clubs skip this argument entirely by having a pot behind the bar, built up from a season of fines. That is exactly what Fine Club is for: every late arrival, own goal and terrible haircut feeds the kitty, and the end of season night out is already paid for before anyone reaches for their wallet.
More wheels
Other wheels for your squad
Every one is free, editable, and loaded with something useful before you start.
FAQ
Questions about the wheel
Can I make sure nobody buys two rounds in a night?
Yes. Tick Remove the winner after each spin, and each person comes off the wheel once they have bought one. When the wheel empties, hit Reset and start again.
Does it work on a phone at the bar?
Yes. It is built for phones, and your list is saved on the device, so the same names are there when the next round comes round.
Can I put drinks on the wheel instead of names?
Yes. Clear the entries and put the drinks in, one per line, and spin for what you are having rather than who is paying.
Is it properly random?
Yes. The winner is picked using your browser's cryptographic random number generator, so every name has the same chance every time, whatever happened on the last spin.