Abar, also known as asaloon, atavern ortippling house, or sometimes as apub orclub, is aretailbusiness that servesalcoholic beverages, such asbeer,wine,liquor,cocktails, and otherbeverages such asmineral water andsoft drinks. Bars often also sellsnack foods, such aschips (crisps) orpeanuts, for consumption on their premises. Some types of bars, such as pubs, may also serve food from arestaurant menu. The term "bar" refers both to the countertop where drinks are prepared and served and alsoby extension to the entirety of the establishment in which the bar is located.
The term derives from themetal or wooden bar (barrier) that is often located along the length of the "bar".[1] Over many years, heights of bars were lowered, and high stools added, and the brass bar remains today.
There have been many different names for public drinking spaces throughout history. In theThirteen Colonies ofNorth America, atavern was ameeting place.[clarification needed][importance?] During the 19th century, saloons were very important to the leisure time of the working class.[2] Today, even when an establishment uses a different name, such as "tavern" or "saloon" or, in the United Kingdom, a "pub", the area of the establishment where the bartender pours or mixes beverages is normally called "the bar".
The sale and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages was prohibited in the first half of the 20th century in several countries. In the United States, illegal bars duringProhibition were called "speakeasies", "blind pigs", and "blind tigers".
Laws in many U.S. states prohibitminors from entering a bar, such as California.[3] In the UK, minors are permitted to be in a bar, though there are many bars that also serve food. In many jurisdictions, if those underlegal drinking age are allowed to enter, as is the case with pubs that serve food, they are not allowed to drink;[4] in the U.S., there are 8 states where children may drink in a pub if accompanied by their parents.[5] In some jurisdictions, bars cannot serve a patron who is already intoxicated. Cities and towns usually have legal restrictions on where bars may be located and on the types of alcohol they may serve to their customers. Some bars may have a license to serve beer and wine, but not hard liquor. In some jurisdictions, patrons buying alcohol must also order food.[citation needed] In some jurisdictions, bar owners have a legal liability for the conduct of patrons who they serve (this liability may arise in cases ofdriving under the influence which cause injuries or deaths).
ManyIslamic countries prohibit bars as well as the possession or sale of alcohol for religious reasons, while others, includingQatar and theUnited Arab Emirates, allow bars in some specific areas, but only permit non-Muslims to drink in them.[citation needed]
A bar's owners and managers choose the bar's name,décor, drink menu, lighting, and other elements which they think will attract a certain kind of patron. However, they have only limited influence over who patronizes their establishment. Thus, a bar originally intended for one demographic profile can become popular with another. For example, agay orlesbian bars with a dance or disco floor might, over time, attract an increasingly heterosexual clientele, or ablues bar may become abiker bar if most its patrons are bikers. Bars can also be an integral part of larger venues. For example, hotels, casinos and nightclubs are usually home to one or several bars. Other types of bar include:
A cocktail lounge is an upscale bar that is typically located within a hotel, restaurant or airport.
A full bar serves liquor, cocktails, wine, and beer.
Awine bar is a bar that focuses on wine rather than on beer or liquor. Patrons of these bars maytaste wines before deciding to buy them. Some wine bars also serve small plates of food or other snacks.
A beer bar focuses on beer, particularlycraft beer, rather than on wine or liquor. Abrew pub has an on-site brewery and serves craft beers.
Some persons may designate either a room or an area of a room as ahome bar. Arrangements can vary from being simple, with bottles of alcohol, cups, and perhaps basic bar supplies, to full bars.
Blues bars, specializing in the live blues style of music
Comedy bars, specializing in stand-up comedy entertainment
Dance bars, which have a dance floor where patrons dance to recorded music. Typically, if a venue has a large dance floor, focuses primarily on dancing rather than seated drinking, and hires professionalDJs, it is considered to be anightclub ordiscothèque rather than a bar.
Karaoke bars, with nightly karaoke as entertainment
Music bars, specializing in live music (i.e. concerts).Piano bars are one example.
Drag bars, which specialize indrag performances as entertainment
Salsa bars, where patrons dance to Latinsalsa music
Sports bars, which are furnished with sports-related memorabilia and theming, and typically contain a large number oftelevisions used to broadcast major sporting events for their patrons.
Atiki bar offers a fully immersive and entertaining environment, including tropical cocktails, tiki carvings, exotica music, a dark, windowless space with light fixtures lending a soft glow, and nautical brick-a-brac that hints at romantic travels to exotic lands.
Topless bars, wheretopless female employees dance or serve drinks. In India, these bars are calleddance bars, which is distinct from the type of "dance bar" discussed above.
Liquor and wine bottles displayed in a cabinet behind a bar in Baden, Austria
Thecounter at which drinks are served by abartender is called "the bar". This term is applied, as asynecdoche, to drinking establishments called "bars". This counter typically stores a variety ofbeers,wines,liquors, and non-alcoholic ingredients, and is organized to facilitate the bartender's work.
Bars are a popular setting for fictional works, and in many cases, authors and other creators have developed imaginary bar locations that have become notable, such as the bar forCheers, Cocktails and Dreams bar in the filmCocktail (1988), the Copacabana bar in the crime filmGoodfellas, the rough and tumble Double Deuce inRoad House (1989), The Kit Kat Klub inCabaret, the Korova Milk Bar in the dystopian novel and film adaptation ofA Clockwork Orange, theMos Eisley cantina-bar inStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977), and the Steinway Beer Garden from the crime-themed video gameGrand Theft Auto IV.
^Harper, Douglas."bar".Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved2019-05-18. - 'bar[:] "tavern," 1590s, so called in reference to the bars of the barrier or counter over which drinks or food were served to customers [...].'
^John M. Kingsdale, "The 'Poor Man's Club': Social Functions of the Urban-Working Class Saloon", inAmerican Quarterly, Vol. 25, No. 4. (Oct. 1973)
Hamill, Pete (1994).A Drinking Life: A Memoir. New York: Little, Brown and Company.ISBN978-0-316-34102-8.
Maloney, Ralph (2012).How to Drink Like a Mad Man. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications.ISBN978-0-486-48352-8. A humorous account of the drinking culture ofMadison Avenue advertising executives during the 1960s. Originally published in 1962 asThe 24-Hour Drink Book: A Guide to Executive Survival.
Moehringer, J.R. (2005).The Tender Bar: A Memoir. New York: Hyperion.ISBN978-1-4013-0064-7.
