One business friend of mine regularly takes his clients out and makes sure that alcohol is never lacking. He is a major wit and an all-round good guy so going out for a drink with him is a pleasure whether he's buying or not. The upshot is that his clients seem to love him: taking them out is not just a chance to network but also shows a level of commitment to the client over and above the call of duty.
This scenario begs an important question: if the client takes you out for a drink (or vice versa), does this count as a client meeting in the usual business way? And if it does still count as a client meeting, what (if any) is the correct way to handle this event? Here come your hints and tips...