Yes, even in countries like Austria. Saddest thing was that many men that were ‘great pals’ while drinking turned into abusers when coming home, making their families co-dependents and their lives hell.
Did it really used to be common for guys to go to a bar every night like in Cheers or The Simpsons?
Submitted 1 day ago by pruwybn@discuss.tchncs.de to [deleted]
Comments
J52@lemmy.nz 2 hours ago
HubertManne@piefed.social 3 hours ago
Yes. In my fathers time men would go there often for lunch and after work. I think some went home and then went over for an hour or two. Later it was still common but someone who did it all the time would be called a barfly but almost everyone did like friday night and pretty often thursday or saturday. Its diminished since and more and more bars have to sorta be restaurants or dance clubs or band venues.
obsoleteacct@lemmy.zip 9 hours ago
Yes, but bear in mind a lot factory, construction, and industrial jobs are 7-3 or 8-4. So a working class laborer could go catch a happy hour with the coworkers or neighbors and be home by 5.
Also in the age of single income households men were often not expected to pull as much weight at home.
Aneb@lemmy.world 5 hours ago
You guys are only working 8hrs? What a life to have. The company I use to work for extended their store hours in 6pm so 8-6 was typical with no overtime pay. Woww saying this out loud really makes me want to unionize.
smeenz@lemmy.nz 4 hours ago
Spot the American.
IWW4@lemmy.zip 6 hours ago
I don’t know about every night but I know plenty of dudes who have a watering hole they go to weekly.
Nurse_Robot@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Still is common, most bars have their regulars
saltesc@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Yeah. Few times a week I go to mine to chat with all the locals over two or three beers then head home. It’s a nice way to wind down, be out, and socialise at a really low intensity. No organising is needed, just arrive and there’ll be someone there you know.
That was kind of the point of pubs (public house). A place for the community to meet up in any weather and have a good time together whether games, sharing stories, or having a meal. The smaller the town, the friendlier and more tight the patrons are too. Also great places to frequent when travelling, meeting new locals, getting great travel advice, making friends for the few days you’re there.
Kelsenellenelvial@lemmy.ca 12 hours ago
Yep, been a while since worked at a place like that, but there was definitely a crowed that would be there most days. This was mid 2000’s. Partly dried up when smoking indoors was banned, I think that was the last straw for a big part of the culture that was already drying up.
nickiwest@lemmy.world 10 hours ago
My uncle was a factory worker and a daily regular at his favorite local bar for more than 30 years.
My mom wouldn’t allow me to go inside the bar (because drinking alcohol is a sin, you know). But in the '80s and '90s, before cell phones, I knew exactly where to find him after school if I needed anything.
Unfortunately, 30+ years of excessive drinking caused a lot of really serious health problems that caught up to him when he was in his 50s. The owners and staff sent a huge flower arrangement and all came to his funeral.
lightnsfw@reddthat.com 4 hours ago
If I could afford it I would. Better than going home and sitting on my ass playing video games or whatever. Bars around here are too expensive though (just like everything else).
daniskarma@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 hours ago
I walk by some neighborhood bars, that are cheap and still some people go everyday like the Simpsons.
Videogames are better. I’ve come to recognize some of the “local drunks” that are there every day, they do be like Barney from the Simpsons. It seems a little depressing looking at them destroying themselves with booze.
lightnsfw@reddthat.com 34 minutes ago
Videogames are better
Not if your goal is to socialize they’re not.
pruwybn@discuss.tchncs.de 4 hours ago
Same
TheLazyNerd@europe.pub 10 hours ago
It depends on (sub)culture, but mainly yes.
Bars were often cheap too, so going to the bar multiple times per week was not expensive. The reason these bars were cheap:
- Outside of touristic areas ground is cheap.
- If the local government allows it, the bar can on the owners property.
- The owner and customers were often friends, so friend pricing would be standard.
- Health and safety regulations used to be less strict. Allowing for lower prices.
- The bar was open whenever the owner wanted, instead of on a fixed schedule, making it more easy to combine with a second job.
- Bars rarely had a menu, they just sold whatever they had in stock. Today customers would be upset if an item on the menu was not in stock.
Also,
- Parks used to be less safe and less well maintained, so buying drinks in the supermarket and consuming them in the park wasn’t really an option.
- The internet wasn’t a thing, so people who wanted to spend the evening gaming had to do so in the bar.
melsaskca@lemmy.ca 12 hours ago
It used to be a place for the working stiffs to gather and was priced accordingly. Nowadays capitalization has been overused to the point where a lot of businesses are pricing themselves out of customers.
Aneb@lemmy.world 5 hours ago
An average draft goes for $7-11 dollars in my city. And the $11 drafts are served in a smaller chalice than the cheaper stuff. I usually buy a 12 pack of beer for $24 from the store and get drunk at home when I can afford it.
SomeAmateur@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
Idk how common it was but it’s a good example of a “third place”. A spot that isn’t work or home where you can meet and socialize
Chronographs@lemmy.zip 1 day ago
I wish we could have third places that don’t involve fucking up your body.
litchralee@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
Even with NA (low/non-alcoholic) beverages, it’d be nice to have third places that don’t come with an obligation to spend money.
To be clear, I’m not asking for places that ban spending money, but there are third places like parks (eg NYC Central Park) that are destinations in their own right, but one can also spend money there, such as buying stuff and having a picnic on the grass, or bringing board games and meeting up with friends. Or strolling the grounds astride rental e-bikes. Or free yoga.
Where there’s an open space, people make use of it. But we don’t really have much of that in the USA, that isn’t tied up as a parking lot, an open-space preserve (where people shouldn’t tred upon to protect wildlife), or are beyond reasonable distances (eg BLM land in the middle of Nevada).
skulblaka@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
Honestly I’m cool with fucking up my body to have a good time, I just wish it didn’t cost me $200 for the privelege.
usrtrv@sh.itjust.works 21 hours ago
Hacker/makerspace
Okokimup@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Check your library. They do all kinds of activities.
Cevilia@lemmy.blahaj.zone 19 hours ago
Public libraries are great third places. Larger ones often have classes, groups, and social clubs. And you’ll meet like-minded people just by becoming a regular.
Usernamealreadyinuse@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Your local gym? CrossFit box? Football/soccer club? Community centre? Library? Outdoor? Scouts?
Nastybutler@lemmy.world 1 day ago
For the non religious, that’s where clubs like the Shriners, or Lions come in. Social clubs that don’t revolve entirely around alcohol
danc4498@lemmy.world 1 day ago
May I introduce you to your lord and savior Jesus Christ? He’s got a third place for you.
BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 11 hours ago
It used to be the Mall. It was always a place to hang out, meet friends, window shop, eat, see a movie, etc.
When I was a kid, the local mall even included the local library. I thought that was a great idea, but I never saw another mall with a library.
danc4498@lemmy.world 1 day ago
I’ve never heard of a concept of a third place. Seems like everybody should have one.
TachyonTele@piefed.social 1 day ago
It still is. There’s bars like that in every town.
iamacar@lemmy.world 9 hours ago
A lot of bars would have tons of cash on Fridays and bartenders would cash paychecks. Customers would pay off the tab and start a new one. Idk how common it is anymore. Most jobs I’ve had for a while will give a paper check if they have to, but discourage it as much as possible.
Rocketpoweredgorilla@lemmy.ca 1 day ago
Yes, my dad was one of them. I haven’t gone to a bar for years but it used to be most smaller bars had at least a few regulars that basically lived there. I remember one old vet that used to show up every day as soon as the bar would open for his daily fix… It got to the point the bar refused to serve him, so he would try and get unsuspecting customers to buy them for him. (This was in the 70’s and 80’s, there were (or at least seemed to be) a lot more alcoholics back then.
OrteilGenou@lemmy.world 1 day ago
I remember stories from my dad about a guy he knew where the bar maid would have to help him with the first drink in the morning because his hands would shake so much.
The romantic history of the happy drunk is almost entirely fictional. I say almost because I know a few people who are able to take it or leave it, but for the most part the people I know/knew who were drinking either in bunches or daily end up complete and unabridged alcoholics, whether they are active and in serious trouble or have sought help and straightened up, but cannot touch it.
pruwybn@discuss.tchncs.de 1 day ago
Yeah, I wouldn’t want to spend that much everyday, I’ll just have some beers at home for 1/5th the price
snooggums@piefed.world 1 day ago
The extra price was so they weren't drinking alone, or to avoid going home.
Grass@sh.itjust.works 18 hours ago
Some of the older old dudes I’ve worked with used to. I actually convinced one of the avocado toast whiners he was wrong based on bar cost now and back in his day
troed@fedia.io 1 day ago
Did this (Mon-Sat) together with a few friends and colleagues in my late 20s. We were regulars to the point of the cook always making something off menu more fitting for regular dinner, as well as no need to settle the bill every night. Once a month everything was tallied up.
Good times. Had to stop though since I found myself going through the fridge on a Sunday once looking for some alcohol.
gdog05@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Had to stop though since I found myself going through the fridge on a Sunday once looking for some alcohol.
I had a similar experience except I’d open the fridge before work and instinctively grab a beer or start to grab one before I realized I was just there for creamer.
Flames5123@sh.itjust.works 23 hours ago
I’m an outlier because I live in a walkable neighborhood in a city. But I have 10 breweries within walking distance around my house. I know the owners by name for 2 of these breweries and the bartenders know me for 4 of them. I think they all know my dog.
I usually go with my wife and/or girlfriend about 2-4 days a week, but it’s still very much a hang out.
We’re also Friday regulars to a semi-close bar every Friday because I won a free beer/week for a year in a $25 raffle!
thatradomguy@lemmy.world 22 hours ago
I usually go with my wife and/or girlfriend
image of hold up meme person with both hands in front of torso
Ok, sorry. I just wanted to post that finally. Also, I was remembering that one clip that always gets put in compilations about that guy and his wife and her bf. Anyway, carry on.
Flames5123@sh.itjust.works 22 hours ago
Being polyam in Seattle is great. All of my coworkers know I’m poly and just accept it. All the bartenders know too. Makes it easy for them to start the tab.
Pencilnoob@lemmy.world 1 day ago
I live in a tiny NE college town where that happens but for breakfast at a dive coffeeshop. It’s loud, packed, the food and coffee are meh, but every single day I can walk in there and see 5-10 locals eating breakfast and shooting the breeze. There’s cliques who always sit together, and social butterflies who pick a different group every morning. A bottomless mug of coffee is $3, so folks will just come and hang out from like 8-11am. It’s great fun.
There’s a brewery next door that’s often busy at night but generally it’s a quiet town so folks are home chilling after dinner.
merc@sh.itjust.works 21 hours ago
I like that in the US, New England (NE) is in the North East (NE).
pruwybn@discuss.tchncs.de 1 day ago
That sounds awesome.
Pencilnoob@lemmy.world 1 day ago
It really is the dream
AlecSadler@lemmy.blahaj.zone 21 hours ago
Umm, I’m in my 40s and I do… 😬
Granted it isn’t like Cheers, I just need the change of scenery since I work from home 10-20 hours a day.
prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 12 hours ago
20 hours a day? Bro…
Whats_your_reasoning@lemmy.world 16 hours ago
I work from home 10-20 hours a day.
That’s fair. Drinking at one’s workplace is usually frowned upon anyway.
ohshit604@sh.itjust.works 16 hours ago
usually, upper management go for their hour and a half long launches and come back blitzed.
Lemminary@lemmy.world 12 hours ago
Before the pandemic, I was watching Drag Race at the gay bar, so yes.
python@lemmy.world 11 hours ago
At the same time?!? Were the bars across the street from each other and you had two different friend groups in both, so you had to make up excuses, change your outfit, and run over to the other bar all night?! That sounds like an exciting time!
Lemminary@lemmy.world 6 hours ago
Oh, these were separate events. One full season of All Stars was hosted at a regular bar by professional organizers from the community (downtime between Prides, amirite) and there were special events at the gay bar for the season finale and our local version, La Más Draga.
MystikIncarnate@lemmy.ca 19 hours ago
Yes, and it’s still pretty common.
OhmsLawn@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Still do?
I don’t drink anymore, but yeah. Those people you see in dive bars are often daily customers.
PillowTalk420@lemmy.world 1 day ago
It’s fairly common right now, too.
Psythik@lemmy.world 1 day ago
How can anyone afford to go to bars anymore? Drinking at home is much cheaper.
dil@lemmy.zip 20 hours ago
any area with bars has a cheaper bar usually, my main college bar was hella cheap, always had a deal everyday, most nearby bars had deals once a week or specials for locally brewed stuff that was a lot cheaper than buying it elsewhere. I could black out easily off 50$ vs sf which is like 2 one shot drinks maybe for that amount
prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 12 hours ago
Gotta find the dive bars with the specials on shitty liquor and beer
LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world 1 day ago
It’s technically considered depression & alcoholism to drink alone in one’s house.
Most people use alcohol to unwind & socialize so they do it in social environments.
474D@lemmy.world 22 hours ago
Get buzzed first then go out and coast with a few drinks
pdqcp@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 day ago
Yup, it used to be a lot more common, Not Just Bikes has a great video on this subject too and how our car dependency made most of them disappear:
The Great Places Erased by Suburbia (the Third Place)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvdQ381K5xg
non YT yewtu.be/watch?v=VvdQ381K5xgfriend_of_satan@lemmy.world 1 day ago
For folks who like this theme, there is lemmy.world/c/fuckcars
foodandart@lemmy.zip 1 day ago
Yeah. My husband went out to the pub 6 nights a week. He’s no longer drinking - quit last year - finally! (I quit in 2009)
Seriously, alcohol is overrated.
YtA4QCam2A9j7EfTgHrH@infosec.pub 1 day ago
When I was younger I did this and it was the best part of my life. Having a place to go where everyone was welcome was very nice
Drusas@fedia.io 1 day ago
Did everybody know your name?
Damage@slrpnk.net 1 day ago
and they were always glad you came
the_riviera_kid@lemmy.world 1 day ago
I worked in a bar for a few years and I saw the same people everyday. They would even come in on holidays if the bar was open. Some of them would blow their whole paycheck, I always thought it was kinda sad.
trashcroissant@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 day ago
I had the same experience and did feel badly for them as well. For a lot of them (especially middle aged men in my experience), they just seemed very lonely. I miss a lot of those regulars, they were generally good people.
merc@sh.itjust.works 21 hours ago
In the show Clarkson’s Farm, Jeremy Clarkson is looking around, trying to buy a pub. At one point they talk about wanting to have a pub with a little grocery store attached. Clarkson’s girlfriend explained why that was common at one point in Ireland. It was because in the past men would get paid, go immediately to the pub, and drink until their paycheck was gone. If there was a shop attached to the pub, they could hand in an order at the shop before they started drinking. And then, even if they drank away the rest of their paycheck, they’d still be handed a bag of groceries before they were kicked out and had to stumble home.
TheReturnOfPEB@reddthat.com 1 day ago
beer used to be cheaper
adespoton@lemmy.ca 22 hours ago
And bars/pubs used to be fine with the regulars hanging out in the corner, only buying a pitcher of beer each per night.
Rentlar@lemmy.ca 1 day ago
Yes, and in some places especially small towns, it is for some people, since it’s the main hangout spot (3rd place) in town.
Though I don’t think young people do that as much, “regulars” tend to mean 1-3 times a week. My university had a bar that had a “ritual” where Friday afternoons it would be a completely full house.
Pumafred9@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Yes, and it still is to certain folk.
I think with sugar and alcohol taxes, a lot of establishments had to change to survive.
updn@lemmy.ca 1 hour ago
I do. Most other people that come here are regulars also.
Not much else out there for community.