Stepping into the Liminal Zone
As I sit sipping my Guinness, pondering what my first post should be about, I realize there’s no better place to start than the very establishment I’m occupying – the pub. For those unfamiliar with this curious British institution, the pub is a weird but glorious place where you can engage in all sorts of activities, from debating who would win in a fight between a great white shark and a tornado, to simply kicking back and enjoying some Irish folk music as you slowly lose consciousness, one pint at a time.
In terms of sociology, the pub is an extremely complex social setting, often described as a “social micro-climate” where the usual rules and social norms simply don’t apply. Sociologist Victor Turner referred to the pub as a “liminal zone” – a space that exists between our work life and our home life. Think about how many times you’ve found yourself in the pub after a hard day’s work, craving a pint to unwind and recharge. It’s not that you’re an alcoholic (well, maybe a little), but rather, it’s the way we’ve been socialized to view the pub as this liminal zone, a place to let go of our daily commitments and indulge in a bit of well-deserved revelry.
The Invisible Queue
Now, let’s dive into some of the unwritten rules that govern this peculiar social setting. One of the most perplexing aspects of pub etiquette is the concept of the “invisible queue.” In every other situation in British life, we love a proper queue – we even take pride in it. However, for some reason, when it comes to the pub, this orderly system goes right out the window.
Instead, we have this mass congregation around the bar, a veritable scrum of bodies all trying to squeeze into any available spot closer to the bar itself. We bump and grind, making eye contact with the bartenders, signaling our presence and our eagerness to be served. Sociologist Kate Fox, who wrote the book “Watching the English,” has delved deeply into this barbaric queuing system, and she has some valuable insights to share.
Even within this chaotic scene, there are still some unwritten rules to observe. If the bartender asks, “Who’s next?”, and you know the person standing next to you has been there longer, it’s your social responsibility to gesture to them and say, “This person.” After all, no one likes that guy who shamelessly cuts the line.
Moreover, making eye contact with the bartender is crucial. None of this waving your money in their face nonsense – that’s a surefire way to get left waiting for an eternity. So, even in the midst of this queue-less pandemonium, a bit of civility and consideration for others can go a long way.
Drunkenness and the Badge of Honor
Another unwritten rule of pub etiquette is the normalization of drunkenness. In ordinary life, if we see someone wandering the streets, visibly inebriated, we might cross to the other side of the road and judge a little. However, in the pub, that same drunkenness is celebrated as “having a good time.” In fact, we often wear our drunkenness as a badge of honor, regaling our friends the next day with wildly exaggerated tales of our inebriated exploits. “I was so wasted, you have no idea!”
Sociologist Mikhail Bakhtin has pointed out that this unspoken rule of forgetting any embarrassing or regrettable behavior that occurs in the pub is crucial. After all, you wouldn’t want that work party incident to resurface and cause you endless embarrassment, would you? The pub is a liminal space where the usual social constraints are relaxed, and we’re allowed to let our hair down (or in some cases, let it all hang out).
The Sacred Act of Buying Rounds
Another fundamental aspect of pub etiquette is the sacred act of buying rounds. If you’re a frequent pub-goer and you’ve never participated in this ritual, then you, my friend, are doing it wrong. Purchasing a round of drinks for your friends has been a tradition in pubs for generations, and it’s rooted in the sociological concept of gift exchange.
As the French sociologist Marcel Mauss explored in his seminal work “The Gift,” exchange systems are built around the obligations to give, receive, and most importantly, reciprocate. The same principle applies to the act of buying a round. If you buy a round of drinks for your friends, they will feel obligated to return the favor and buy the next round. This cycle of reciprocity is what keeps the drinks flowing and the camaraderie alive.
However, there are some nuances to this unwritten rule. If there are more than five of you, it’s generally best to call it a day after each person has had their turn. Otherwise, you might find yourself in a never-ending loop of rounds, with the real fun just beginning. Interestingly, studies have shown that in the past, men often overlooked women for buying a round, as the pub was traditionally considered a male domain. But fear not, ladies – gender inequality is slowly, albeit excruciatingly slowly, making its way out the door.
Observing the Unwritten Rules
As you sit in your local watering hole, sipping on that cold, refreshing beverage, take a moment to observe the social behaviors around you. Try to identify how many of these unwritten rules of pub etiquette you’re accommodating, either consciously or subconsciously.
Remember, the pub is a liminal zone, a space where the usual social constraints are loosened, and we’re allowed to indulge in a bit of revelry and camaraderie. So, the next time you find yourself in the midst of the invisible queue, the normalization of drunkenness, or the sacred act of buying rounds, embrace it. After all, that’s what the pub is all about – a place to let go, unwind, and connect with friends, old and new.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I believe it’s my turn to buy the next round. Cheers!
