No Stupid Questions

Still do?

I don't drink anymore, but yeah. Those people you see in dive bars are often daily customers.

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

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.

It's fairly common right now, too.

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.

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)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvdQ381K5xg
non YT https://yewtu.be/watch?v=VvdQ381K5xg

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.

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.

Remember, no internet before this millenium, 3 to 7 television channels before cable, no TV before the 50s...

Pub culture is definitely a thing in the UK though and I wish we had some of these neighborhood meeting places in the US too. They aren't necessarily a place to get shitfaced but to get a simple meal and a beer.

Fraternal/Sororal organizations used to be a big thing up to the 60s with the Elks clubs, Odd Fellows, Shriners, etc. We've lost a lot of that community glue.

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

A lot of blue collar workers went straight to the bar after work 3-4 days a week.

I did sheet metal back in the 90's for a year. Typical day... start at 6, off at 2:30, bar from 3-5. Pretty much everyday.

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.

Used to be? This is still common in many industries and localities.

beer used to be a lot cheaper

Yes, and it's still pretty common.

For référence, there is an ancient in my village of 300 inhabitants that isbsaying that in the 60's, there were SIX bars in the village. For 300 inhabitants.

So I guess so.

Also for reference we only have a bread machine now, no shops of any kind.

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.

I don’t know about every night but I know plenty of dudes who have a watering hole they go to weekly.

There's a reason prohibition happened. Alcohol consumption back then was 3x higher than it is now, so it was not uncommon for men to get off work, go blow their paychecks at the bar, then go home and beat their wives.

Worked in a pub in the UK.

Yes, we had regulars. They'd be there nearly every night after work for a quick pint before heading home.

Very few of them would stay for more than one or two though

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.

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.

I do. Most other people that come here are regulars also.

Not much else out there for community.