Reply To: question that will probably be controversial

Not a problem, and as mommamia said, it would be rude not to.

Here is the halacha: http://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=9146&st=&pgnum=149

It is clear that if you know the person you are allowed to give him a gift, because it is never called “free” when you know the person.

(By the way, the issur of Lo Sechaneim – pashtus – applies equally to all non-Jews except one who is a ger toshav.)