Need help

[burntcopper]

On one of my occasional British ranting periods, this time the subject is pubs. Anyone got anything they'd care to contribute or a peeve they'd like me to add on the subject? Can be as little or as odd as they like, especially if it's in regard to differences between ours and US bars. Bear in mind that I've only been in a couple of drinking establishments in the US, and one of those was an attempt at an Irish/English pub in New York on 3rd called the Pig and Whistle. And do Americans have fruit machines in their bars, and do they call them fruit machines?

Comments

[katemonkey.livejournal.com]

Most American bars can't have fruit machines, 'cause that's gambling, and you're not allowed to have gambling in most places.

However, some cities allow video poker. But, mostly, you'll get a jukebox and maybe a video game/pinball game.

[violetfrosting.livejournal.com]

Damn - I was gonna say that - now I have nothing sensible to add at all... except that I hate those little napkins they put under your drink in the US - they stick to your glass.

ps - fruit machines in the US - I may be wrong but I think they're generally just known as "slots". But as Kate says - illegal in most places unless you're in Vegas, where they have slots in the toilet in case you're *that* desperate to gamble

[kittynic]

I have to agree with you on that one, honey.
Those paper mats are terrible!

*hug*

P.S. Love the icon. So in agreement!

[violetfrosting.livejournal.com]

Squee - icon recognition!

[kittynic]

Of course! I've been reading about the whole hooha.

Bad people. Grow up!

*hug*

[violetfrosting.livejournal.com]

...ETA - just watched CSI and they had slots in the supermarket as well.
Ah Vegas - great town *grin*

[mingmerciless.livejournal.com]

I used to get carded all the time in bars in Boston and surrounds ie being asked to show ID that proved I was over 21. This would have been around when I was pushing 30! Meant I pretty much had to carry my passport everywhere I went in the Commonwealth of Massachussets.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_slutboy_/]

i've just been to florida and i was 21! at last, i'd been b4 and the only way to get a drink was for dad to tip some of his into my glass!! or drinking at the villa, was so not fun. but this time was so much better, i had to carry my passport everywhere, but i could drink in the pubs and clubs we went into! i got pissed in disney's EPCOT center! in the british pub there(was cockney singer and british bar-staff, and the only fish n chip shop for miles next door) everything seemed better there after a drink! and i even sang while in the pub!!! the part of my family that could drink, did, so they were in the same sort of state as me! hence my cousins and sister took over where we went after the pub. but the places we went in for drinks and stuff were all disney/universal places so kinda gimmicky! apart from bush gardens and sea which had the budweiser hospitality bars, which were big, open, clean, modern and stylish places (to try and get away from the view of beer being dirty i think!), they were nice but totally character free! not like back here. was surprised to find they brewed a good beer called Black and amber! which i had quite a few free samples of cos the staff kept changing so we all kept getting our 2 free samples each time someone new came along. got tipsy and went on roller-coasters, everyone should try it! it's great.
oh i so want to go back to Vegas now i'm 21!

[notasalmon.livejournal.com]

I don't know about the difference, seeing as I've never been to an american effort at a pub, but I'd definitely say that the few efforts in fics have made pubs seem far too clean and sanitary ;) I judge from the ones round here (live in a tiny village, about 1400 inhabitants - one shop, one undertaker, three pubs), in which you're more likely to get food poisoning than decent service. Very much a case of if you know the landlord, who's most likely working the bar, you get served. If you don't, you wait for three hours - or wear a low cut top and lean over.

A list of pub-related terminology would be great on the site - landlord, bartender (is that used in the US? Or is it a barkeep? I forget...), serving wench *g*

[cirieno.livejournal.com]

There's always the issue of *prices*.

In a bar on State Street, Madison (main street of the city), asked for a whisky and coke... was given a half-pint of whisky and a squirt of coke and a dink of ice. How much? Three dollars. Three!

I'm *so* living in the wrong damn country.


So, do they have boards of peanuts with a racy picture printed behind the bags?


Just how popular is karaoke anyway?


Hmm, *thinks of more* -- later.