Wikipedia

Bar (establishment)

(Redirected fromSports bar)
"Saloon bar" redirects here. For the film, seeSaloon Bar.For the play, seeSaloon Bar (play).
See also:TavernandPub

Abar,also known as asaloon,atavernortippling house,or sometimes as apuborclub,is aretailbusinessthat servesalcoholic beverages,such asbeer,wine,liquor,cocktails,and otherbeveragessuch asmineral waterandsoft drinks.Bars often also sellsnack foods,such ascrispsorpeanuts,for consumption on their premises. Some types of bars, such as pubs, may also serve food from arestaurantmenu. The term "bar" refers to the countertop where drinks are prepared and served, andby extensionto the overall premises.

A hotel bar inSwitzerland
Outdoor bar inPaso Robles,California,United States of America

The term derives from themetalor 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.

History

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ADepression-erabar inMelrose, Louisiana

There have been many different names for public drinking spaces throughout history. In the colonial era of the United States, taverns were an important meeting place, as most other institutions were weak.[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 duringProhibitionwere called "speakeasies","blind pigs ", and" blind tigers ".

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Laws in many U.S. states prohibitminorsfrom 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 ageare 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 influencewhich cause injuries or deaths).

ManyIslamic countriesprohibit bars as well as the possession or sale of alcohol for religious reasons, while others, includingQatarand theUnited Arab Emirates,allow bars in some specific areas, but only permit non-Muslims to drink in them.

Types

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Gunpowder Cellar of Tartu,a former 18th-centurygunpowdercellar and currentbeerrestaurantinTartu,Estonia

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, agayorlesbian barwith a dance or disco floor might, over time, attract an increasingly heterosexual clientele, or abluesbar may become abiker barif 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 baris a bar that focuses on wine rather than on beer or liquor. Patrons of these bars maytaste winesbefore 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 pubhas an on-site brewery and serves craft beers.
  • "Fern bar"is an American slang term for an upscale orpreppy(oryuppie) bar.
  • A music bar is a bar that presentslive musicas an attraction, such as apiano bar.
  • Adive bar,often referred to simply as a "dive", is a very informal bar which may be considered by some to be disreputable.
  • Anon-alcoholic baris a bar that does not serve alcoholic beverages.
  • Astrip clubis a bar with nude entertainers.
  • A bar and grill is also a restaurant.

Some persons may designate either a room or an area of a room as ahome bar.Furniture and arrangements vary from efficient to full bars that could be suited as businesses.

Entertainment

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Bars categorized by the kind of entertainment they offer:

  • Arcadebars, in which the bar have video games oncabinetsandconsoles
  • Bluesbars, 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 anightclubordiscothèquerather than a bar.
  • Karaokebars, with nightly karaoke as entertainment
  • Music bars, specializing in live music (i.e. concerts).Piano barsare one example.
  • Drag bars, which specialize indragperformances 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 oftelevisionsused to broadcast major sporting events for their patrons.
  • Atiki baroffers 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, wheretoplessfemale employees dance or serve drinks. In India, these bars are calleddance bars,which is distinct from the type of "dance bar" discussed above.

Bar (counter)

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Liquor and wine bottles displayed in a cabinet behind a bar in Baden, Austria

Thecounterat which drinks are served by abartenderis 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.

Counters for serving other types of food and drink may also be called bars. Examples of this usage of the word includesnack bars,sushibars,juice bars,salad bars,dairy bars,and ice creamsundaebars.

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In fiction

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Main article:List of fictional bars and pubs

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 Eisleycantina-bar inStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hope(1977), and the Steinway Beer Garden from the crime-themed video gameGrand Theft Auto IV.

See also

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References

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  1. ^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 [...].'
  2. ^John M. Kingsdale, "The 'Poor Man's Club': Social Functions of the Urban-Working Class Saloon", inAmerican Quarterly,Vol. 25, No. 4. (Oct. 1973)
  3. ^Writer, Catherine Ferris; Trends (August 30, 2022)."Bar's Age Restriction Policy Delights Internet: 'You'll Understand'".Newsweek.Retrieved1 April2024.
  4. ^"The law on alcohol and under 18s".Drinkaware.Retrieved1 April2024.
  5. ^Bernstein, Susan."Alcohol Laws: Who Can Buy, Sell, or Drink Alcohol".WebMD.Retrieved1 April2024.

Bibliography

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