ireland dying pub culture

i_love_toast

just thinking today what ever happened to irelands pub culture?the old days when is was a tradition across the country to meet at your local for pints on the weekend.when pubs were packed and you'd have to stand and the craic was mighty!!These days you walk into a pub and its empty except for the odd middle aged couple and a few aul fellas at the bar.Ireland used to been known for its craic in the pub.i know everyone will say"the smoking ban"but i think the governemt are the one killing it.its a dying culture thats soon to be extinct with the cost of drink and everything else going up.do you not think the governemt are trying to kill all the fun some of the times?

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

yeah, i miss irelands old drug culture but thankfully we have a new and growing drug culture that's taking over. it's cheaper, you don't have to worry about al the cool kids do it.

Fanny Cradock

I blame the foreigners.

Maybe you are living somewhere in the arsehole of Ireland, but it's generally packed at the weekend around the centre of Dublin.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Good riddance to it. Poeple might actaully have to think for a change!!

I'm not against drinking, but pub "culture" (or rather the complete lack of everything esle culture) is conformist, boring and he one thing standing between us and becoming a half-decent modern European capital.

Dr. Baltar

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

Good riddance to it. Poeple might actaully have to think for a change!!

I'm not against drinking, but pub "culture" (or rather the complete lack of everything esle culture) is conformist, boring and he one thing standing between us and becoming a half-decent modern European capital.

You do realise that the pub culture has been replaced by the drink-binge culture which is a thousand times worse?

Rb

You can buy 6 cans for €10 or so in the supermarket, whilst the pubs are trying to get €6 out of you for a pint.
If anyone is to blame, it's the publicans themselves. Greedy shower of bastards as far as I'm concerned.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

you're just not the same since you changed your nick.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Sir Baralot wrote: »

You do realise that the pub culture has been replaced by the drink-binge culture which is a thousand times worse?

The drink-binge culture is pretty much the same thing, nowadays. Not entirely what the OP is getting it, I appreciate, but if people had access to (and were willing to bloody TRY) a different outlet than alcohol, you never know: we might actually become a PROPER city of culture.

i_love_toast

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

Good riddance to it. Poeple might actaully have to think for a change!!

I'm not against drinking, but pub "culture" (or rather the complete lack of everything esle culture) is conformist, boring and he one thing standing between us and becoming a half-decent modern European capital.

thats what i mean!!were turning into every other european city having the odd glass oa bear here and there and terrified having to spend a night in a pub socializing.i know everyone will say publicans..and the 6 cans of bavaria for 7euro but the governemt are even trying to put the price of them up to every other expensive beer so for example students are gonna suffer.i know the main pubs in dublin are always busy on the weekend but a lot of the other ones are closing down for good and a loss of a lot of historic ones too!

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

i_love_toast wrote: »

thats what i mean!!were turning into every other european city having the odd glass oa bear here and there and terrified having to spend a night in a pub socializing.i know everyone will say publicans..and the 6 cans of bavaria for 7euro but the governemt are even trying to put the price of them up to every other expensive beer so for example students are gonna suffer.i know the main pubs in dublin are always busy on the weekend but a lot of the other ones are closing down for good and a loss of a lot of historic ones too!

Hey - the Europeans spend a night in a pub quiet frequently: most of the morning too, as they can be trusted not to start brawls and pukefests at 2.01 am. But they don't LIVE for it. WE do. And it's so limiting.

If the historic ones are closeing down while other ones are full, then that's just the way of the land: people, at the end of the day, choose where to drink and where not to drink.

dsmythy

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

Good riddance to it. Poeple might actaully have to think for a change!!

I'm not against drinking, but pub "culture" (or rather the complete lack of everything esle culture) is conformist, boring and he one thing standing between us and becoming a half-decent modern European capital.

So you want us to conform to the continentals instead?

lost marbles

our biggest export "the irish pub" go to any city in the world and theres one .but we,re not irish anymore we,re europeans or so the government want us to be .so from now on wether home or away when you arrive in that holiday resort dont go looking for the irish pub ,look for the "nice ill have two glasses of wine and a coffee irish cafe bar "but dont forget to drink the bottle of vodka before you go because the irish cafe bar/pub will charge you an arm and a leg to for a drink .oh and btw dont even think about having the "craic".the government [nanny state ]frowns upon that kinda messing ,you might fall and end up having to use a hospital .its your fault that they are not able to cope

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

i thought computer software was our biggest export

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

lost marbles wrote: »

our biggest export "the irish pub" go to any city in the world and theres one .but we,re not irish anymore we,re europeans or so the government want us to be .so from now on wether home or away when you arrive in that holiday resort dont go looking for the irish pub ,look for the "nice ill have two glasses of wine and a coffee irish cafe bar "but dont forget to drink the bottle of vodka before you go because the irish cafe bar/pub will charge you an arm and a leg to for a drink .oh and btw dont even think about having the "craic".the government [nanny state ]frowns upon that kinda messing ,you might fall and end up having to use a hospital .its your fault that they are not able to cope

What's wrong with being both European AND Irish?

Interesting. I've just read a thread about how foreign nationals coming into out country should automatically follow our culture and contorm to our way of life, but here you're endorsing that we go abroad and do exactly the opposite...

Come to think of it, what's the point in going aborad in the first place?

Also, what's the point in complaining about a nanny state and then doing what everyone else tells you to do anyway?

Grampa: "We're free! We can go wherever we want!"
[Pause]
Grampa: "I'm cold. Let's go inside."

dsmythy wrote: »

So you want us to conform to the continentals instead?

I don't follow: giving people a bit more choice is "conforming to the continentals"?

lost marbles

Mordances with the proletariat wrote: »

i thought computer software was our biggest export

ok i forgot this was ahs ONE OF OUR BIGGEST EXPORTS. HAPPY NOW:D

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

actually, yes.

Cianos

I know this may be hard to understand, but there are other ways to socialise other than around a table full of pints. Maybe if we engaged in more non-drug influenced socialising we'd be the better for it.

lost marbles

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

What's wrong with being both European AND Irish?

Interesting. I've just read a thread about how foreign nationals coming into out country should automatically follow our culture and contorm to our way of life, but here you're endorsing that we go abroad and do exactly the opposite...

Come to think of it, what's the point in going aborad in the first place?

Also, what's the point in complaining about a nanny state and then doing what everyone else tells you to do anyway?

Grampa: "We're free! We can go wherever we want!"
[Pause]
Grampa: "I'm cold. Let's go inside."



I don't follow: giving people a bit more choice is "conforming to the continentals"?[/quote
see you have taken on the change by grasping the whole lets change from being irish [i take it you are ] the pub culture is or was part of the irish way of life .thats the point im making and yes irish people when they do travel away do end up in the irish pub .it has and always been like that .the point im making is that the decline of the irish pub here is just one part of what i see as an erosion of our culture .who do we point the finger at on this one ?
the government ? well they wanted a better view of the "hard drinking" irish when we were top of the european tree and blamed the binge drinking on the pubs [which was,nt the case because its done in homes now]
the publicans ? they priced themsleves out of the market in the good times and are now suffering for being greedy
the whole thing of lets change the irish mindset on drinking imo has been forced on us [and btw im not a big drinker either maybe three times a year ill have a drink ]

BraziliaNZ

why do people think irish are the only ones for whom socialising revolves around drinking? It's the same in New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and USA from my experiences. Irish/British people and their descendants in the new world socialise in bars and pubs. Who cares? It's great fun. If the customer levels are dwindling in Ireland, it's down to the extortionate prices being charged. Nothing makes me angrier than seeing a publican on TV moaning about not getting customers, when he's charging 5 euro a pint ffs.

dsmythy

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

I don't follow: giving people a bit more choice is "conforming to the continentals"?

People have that choice already. They choose not to take it. We live for the pub unlike other countries. You want us to be more like continental Europeans and not live for the pub. Sounds like you want us to conform to them. Obviously that's conforming on a larger European scale rather than changing one countries habits. Still the same premise to me.

Holsten

I still go to the pub the odd time.

I'd MUCH rather just head to a house and a few cans though.

i_love_toast

thats exactly what im saying.the governemt tried to put big tax on drink to stop people going to pubs but the problem still exists but just at home instead at in the mean time a whole culture of harmless fun is being dwindled away.and you dont have to drink to get the craic in a pub it was the atmosphere that made it special and what atmosphere do you get from going into an empty pub....none!and i think its leading to people becoming more unsocial in a sense that people do say.."god people just arnt as friendly as they used to be"...but i think this is true because people are more career focused ect...where not as easy going as we used to be..because were told if u go into a pub and have a good time your a binge drinker ect

Xavi6

Holsten wrote: »

I still go to the pub the odd time.

I'd MUCH rather just head to a house and a few cans though.

+1 to that. Not only do you save a fortune but you're guaranteed a chair, you can play some playstation, whip out the guitar for a sing song or just have a good old fashioned conversation without some silly slapper mouthing off at the table next to you.

Unless I get a nice quiet corner in the boozer I've no interest in going.

BraziliaNZ

well as a single person it's also the only chance I get to meet chicks, you'll find people in relationships or whatever it's called don't go out as much

jprender

Cianos wrote: »

I know this may be hard to understand, but there are other ways to socialise other than around a table full of pints. Maybe if we engaged in more non-drug influenced socialising we'd be the better for it.

That's spot on.

Xavi6

Cianos wrote: »

I know this may be hard to understand, but there are other ways to socialise other than around a table full of pints. Maybe if we engaged in more non-drug influenced socialising we'd be the better for it.

jprender wrote: »

That's spot on.

Suggest some then. These kind of statements are pointless without examples.

Now remember, we're talking large groups of friends gathered in the one spot to socialise.

DublinWriter

I think it was initially the smoking ban that started the current trend. Then when everyone started drinking at home, we began to realise what a rip-off pubs are.

I personally don't yearn for the days when you had to stand in a cramped pub yelling in someone's ear trying to have a conversation or having to queue up to use a filthy urinal.

Only in Ireland do we mention 'drink' and 'culture' in the same sentence.

Caoimhín

Xavi6 wrote: »

whip out the guitar for a sing song or just have a good old fashioned conversation without some silly slapper mouthing off at the table next to you.

I really f*cking hate those c*nts who wreak a good house party by bringing out a guitar.

jprender

Xavi6 wrote: »

Suggest some then. These kind of statements are pointless without examples.

Now remember, we're talking large groups of friends gathered in the one spot to socialise.

Any sporting event.

Xavi6

jprender wrote: »

Any sporting event.

Nah not havin that as a viable substitute. Firstly it's outdoors so you freeze your balls off and secondly if you try to have any sort of conversation you'll be told to shut the fuck up by Anto and Jonner behind you.

Plug

How about forget the pub and buy Damburger(dambuster) or stieneger. Only a euro a can!

jprender

Xavi6 wrote: »

if you try to have any sort of conversation you'll be told to shut the fuck up by Anto and Jonner behind you.

lol, Anto and Jonner are at home drinking their 6 cans for 7euro

They also dont go Bowling.
Dont go for coffee
Probably wont be at the theatre
How about a nice restaurant
An exhibition
A game of golf
A local rugby match
A home BBQ
A game of poker

I am not necessarily talking about a game of footie with 45k fans at it.


Let me put it this way, if the pubs were all closed tomorrow, how would you go about meeting people. I am sure that you wouldn't just stay at home. It just takes a bit of thought and effort, the pub is the easy answer because its just what people do.

Thats why the pub culture exists. It's just what generations have always done and it takes little effort.

Xavi6

jprender wrote: »

They also dont go Bowling.

Not everyone can bowl/wants to bowl. Everyone however likes sitting around chatting.

jprender wrote: »

Dont go for coffee

Very few late night cafes that would be the equivalent of a pub

jprender wrote: »

Probably wont be at the theatre

Conversation anyo......sssssshhhhhhh!!!!!

jprender wrote: »

How about a nice restaurant

Meh

jprender wrote: »

An exhibition

Zzzzzzzzzz

jprender wrote: »

Let me put it this way, if the pubs were all closed tomorrow, how would you go about meeting people.

Da internetz ov course. ASL?

jprender wrote: »

Thats why the pub culture exists. It's just what generations have always done and it takes little effort.

Sorry but none of the above cater for the the 'pub culture' atmosphere. I'm talking somewhere that has everything a pub has, except drink. It doesn't exist.

jprender

Well for sure if it is the Pub Culture Atmosphere that you crave, the only place you will find that is of course in a pub.

But come on, there is more to life.

Xavi6

jprender wrote: »

Well for sure if it is the Pub Culture Atmosphere that you crave, the only place you will find that is of course in a pub.

But come on, there is more to life.

Don't get me wrong, I agree with you. However for a lot of people there isn't much more to life which is why it won't die out. They have their routine and love it.

jprender

Xavi6 wrote: »

They have their routine and love it.

If it aint broke dont fix it I suppose.

I agree that the pub culture will never die either.
But, hypothetically, if it did, ppl wud find summit else to do

Xavi6

jprender wrote: »

If it aint broke dont fix it I suppose.

I agree that the pub culture will never die either.
But, hypothetically, if it did, ppl wud find summit else to do

Bring in prohibition. Then we can bootleg our own booze and distribute it via the local bowling alley, all the while avoiding Rex Banner.

jprender

Xavi6 wrote: »

Bring in prohibition. Then we can bootleg our own booze and distribute it via the local bowling alley, all the while avoiding Rex Banner.

now your talkin.

The Irish love their drink and there is no gettin round it.

The pub culture or drink culture to be more precise is here to stay. If pubs stopped serving drink and the bowling alleys had beer on tap, I know where you would find most ppl.

Padraig Mor

i_love_toast wrote: »

thats exactly what im saying.the governemt tried to put big tax on drink to stop people going to pubs

Did they? AFAIK they're been very few increases in alcohol excise duty in recent years. If anything, the current govt just bends over to the Vintner's Federation - witness the cafe bar debacle. There is only one main reason people aren't going to the pub as much. It's not the smoking ban. It's not breath testing. It's ****ing publicans charging ridiculous prices. It's sure as hell why I rarely go....

jprender

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Did they? AFAIK they're been very few increases in alcohol excise duty in recent years. If anything, the current govt just bends over to the Vintner's Federation - witness the cafe bar debacle. There is only one main reason people aren't going to the pub as much. It's not the smoking ban. It's not breath testing. It's ****ing publicans charging ridiculous prices.

Well said Big Paddy

Wook

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

Good riddance to it. Poeple might actaully have to think for a change!!

I'm not against drinking, but pub "culture" (or rather the complete lack of everything esle culture) is conformist, boring and he one thing standing between us and becoming a half-decent modern European capital.

Thank you.

mise_me_fein

There´s not much else to do other than have a few pints and have a bit of banter on the weekend.

The Weather can be rough and even if it´s good you´d always go for a few in the evening.

As far as I can see the culture of having the craic is alive and kicking.

jprender

mise_me_fein wrote: »

There´s not much else to do other than have a few pints and have a bit of banter on the weekend.

The Weather can be rough and even if it´s good you´d always go for a few in the evening.

Thats the routine some people love alright.

Sherifu

i_love_toast wrote: »

just thinking today what ever happened to irelands pub culture?

No great loss.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

dsmythy wrote: »

People have that choice already. They choose not to take it. We live for the pub unlike other countries. You want us to be more like continental Europeans and not live for the pub. Sounds like you want us to conform to them. Obviously that's conforming on a larger European scale rather than changing one countries habits. Still the same premise to me.

So what you're satying is non-conformists go to the pub out of habit, and conformists do indivual different things in order to inject a bit of cariety into their lives? You sure you understand the concept? You obviously don't know continentlas very well!! Far more individuality and character than just goign to the pub.

So what is 'not' conforming'? Everyone here goes to the pub out of habit, which is pretty much 'conformed' behaveiour to me. Conteinentals think first, have ideas and then go and and do somethign different every now and again.

I was discussing this the other day while driving down to Shannon. We went through a load of towns between 1-5pm & none of the pubs were open. Back as close as 5 years ago this wouldnt be the case and you'd have people in there from as early as 11 in the morning. It comes down to alot of things I think. The smoking ban, much stricter enforcement on drink driving(rightly so) & as RB pointed out , the rip of publicans themselves! Going from the mid nineties backwards the people you see on the street binging with cans in Dublin & other towns/cities would be mostly in the pub because they could afford it!

Even though the dying of this culture is somehow sad it is for the good of the country in the long run.

Heres a quick symbol that this culture has brought us http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i84/Kag1888/LOL-1.jpg

beerbaron

Xavi6 wrote: »

Bring in prohibition. Then we can bootleg our own booze and distribute it via the local bowling alley, all the while avoiding Rex Banner.

Why didn't I think of that !

S.I.R

i think a lowwering in tax for pubs who charge less would be a big incenttif... back to the days of the 2 quid pint !! :pac:

ivan087

caoibhin wrote: »

I really f*cking hate those c*nts who wreak a good house party by bringing out a guitar.

oh man, you are so right! the guitar comes out, the conversation drops and you have to listen to the best of damian dempsey for half an hour.

Degsy

**** the pubs.Trying to charge 6 quid for a pint in broad daylight(after negotiating your way past sullen foreign doormen),standing at a bar for ten minutes to be served by a sullen foreign barman,being shortchanged,no food in pubs,nowhere to sit,****ing football blaring whether anybody's watching it or not,being panhandled in the jacks by a sullen foreign bloke who wants you to pay him for using toilet roll.

meditraitor

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Did they? AFAIK they're been very few increases in alcohol excise duty in recent years. If anything, the current govt just bends over to the Vintner's Federation - witness the cafe bar debacle. There is only one main reason people aren't going to the pub as much. It's not the smoking ban. It's not breath testing. It's ****ing publicans charging ridiculous prices. It's sure as hell why I rarely go....

The government still take over 30% of the money you give the publican for a Pint of plain and even more on spirits.....
for argument sake if a pint is 4 yoyos at the counter then the government tax you pay is minimum

€1.20 per pint fukcing tax to the greedy bastards. let them tax the fucpping builders/multiply house owners/banks/supermarkets some more but leave our pints alone

So your suggesting they should get a bigger slice of my money is rediculous