I just sat on a barstool for the first time in 10 years .

[fastfredracing]

My clothes smell of stale Marlboro's , and broken dreams . I used to go out for drinks a few nights a week. Don't miss it one bit . Funny how drunk people are a whole lot more annoying when you are sober .
Any of you guys still go down to the local pub for a few cold ones once in a while ?

[Baz]

No. I stay away from smokers. And drunks.

[JavaBrewer]

I drink alone or by myself. I hate bars...maybe cause I was a bartender for 10 years and hate drunks.

[VincentVega]

I couldnt stand a smoky bar anymore, thankfully smoking has been banned here for years. I get out to a chill place once in a while. I'm getting old so I cant hang with the late/loud crowd anymore.

[nzporsche944s2]

Do you guys still allow smokers in bars? We went smoke free indoors here years ago and its funny now how when you have to walk through someone elses smoke outside then you realise how obnoxious it really is.

I was a bartender in England for a year a long time ago and the smoke was so thick that the condensation on the walls and windows used to run down as a brown liquid.

[Bill Douglas]

We don't have smoking in bars around here. I drink in cafes and restaurants, which in a way are like bars, but with less fu ckwits around and more women.

[rusnak]

I like smoking and drinking. It's the sitting I don't like. So no bars for me.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

My clothes smell of stale Marlboro's , and broken dreams . I used to go out for drinks a few nights a week. Don't miss it one bit . Funny how drunk people are a whole lot more annoying when you are sober .
Any of you guys still go down to the local pub for a few cold ones once in a while ?

Feels like home doesn't it.

[slodave]

At the local pub, singing karaoke right now!

[onewhippedpuppy]

No to the smoking, except the open air cigar bar in NoLa last week. I travel a lot so frequently end up at the nearest bar, especially when traveling alone. You meet some interesting and entertaining people in hotel bars.

[on2wheels52]

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

I drink alone or by myself.

I'll have to give that a try

[petrolhead611]

No smoking allowed inside UK pubs or restaurants any more. You have to go outside to freeze if you want to kill yourself slowly these days. Most pubs are now more restaurant than bar too: supermarket alcohol prices are so low that people tend to drink at home, and drinking only pubs are closing at the rate of several per week.

[wdfifteen]

I travel a lot. I'm in a lot of hotel bars. When I'm home I don't even want to leave the house.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I travel a lot. I'm in a lot of hotel bars. When I'm home I don't even want to leave the house.

I can sympathize. I'm social enough that I still enjoy going out for a drink with my wife and friends, but sometimes I agree that it's nice to get away from people.

[greglepore]

I don't usually go out alone, or to a "bar" but my gf and I prefer to sit at a bar when we go out to eat, as we often meet interesting folks that way, and we see enough of just each other.

No smoking in bars in Pa unless they do less than 25% of their biz in food. But some still stink.

[GH85Carrera]

In so many TV shows and movies they show the main character go to a local bar and sit and have a drink. I have tried that maybe twice in my life. I figured I was paying a lot for someone else to open a beer for me. I did not want to hang out there long enough to get to know anyone there. Maybe it is because I never grew up in near a neighborhood bar where I would know the locals. They allowed smoking back then and I hated that part. I can't think of one single reason to try again.

[Oh Haha]

The last time I was in a bar was Pittsburgh for a conference a couple of years ago. Corporate socializing at it's best.

I have a beer once in a while at home but that's it.

I spent many nights in bars playing with the band in my 20s. Enough alcohol and smoke to last many years.

[flatbutt]

My local bar is and has been smoke free for years. And when I say local I really mean it. I've been going there for many years. The bartender knows my name and she has my wine ready for me by the time I take my usual seat. I never get drunk and frankly drunks are not tolerated. It has a great kitchen that turns out very good meals so I eat supper there 2 to 3 times a week. One side of the bar is "old man row" where we old guys sit and watch the games.

[recycled sixtie]

Great thread Fred. We were at an Irish pub last night. Very busy as it was the celebration of its 18th birthday. No smoking allowed in bars here. A very happy crowd. Lots of Irish there. I had one glass of wine all night. I am definitely not a heavy drinker after having a near bad accident close to 40 years ago. Plus I was ferrying people home.

Also many of the Irish in attendance were at our daughter's wedding a year ago in Ireland. Oh yes they had an Irish group playing music, whistle etc.

[Steve Carlton]

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