The Demise of the British Pint; or is it Culture?

I imagined that my first non-green post, would be about my hobby in motorsport; which I am very keen on. But, an article on the BBC website has grabbed my attention, and possibly made me conclude, that my favourite hobby is drinking!?

The article can be found here

Apparently, we all drink far less pints than we used to. A trip around town (Warrington) on a Saturday night says different; but maybe it's just the demographic that has shifted. Indeed, the new batches of youngsters are paving the streets with orange and blue bile; but are we really supping fewer pints?

Maybe, I just haven't noticed that much. My local pub is a haven of all things good about being British - a bastion of hope against the trendy bar upstarts, seemingly assimilating the nation. Admittedly, it is only one half of the pub, known as 'the bar-side'; where the other half, 'the best-side' deals with your daily Grigio, Staropramen, and lads on the pull lot.

Bar-sides, or snugs, vaults, whatever you like, tend to get a bit of a bad rap on the whole - only justified in the minority of cases (read, rough as f%^k!). They are the only sanctuaries we have left, especially in geographically built up areas; which practice the art of the British pint.

What is the British pint? Is it bitter, lager, cider, stout or mild, in a glass that measures exactly 568ml? No.

It is the British practice of bringing together common men. Common not meaning rough and vulgar; but ordinary, every day, and communal. And suffice to say, in our now modern times -men are extended to women. A British pint is as much about the community, as it is the taste and its effects. It's not about getting hammered with your mates while on the pull; it brings a community together, to socialise, relax and sooth.

The BBC article is pretty good. Rather than rest on facts and figures, it provides a rather interesting analysis, all be it with a few parts that I think are a bit off the mark, namely drug use effecting sales. And, one thing isn't mentioned throughout the article, is the coinciding demise of British culture. However, someone mentions in the comments sections, about there being 'no pubs' anymore; meaning the real pubs that have changed into commercial ventures, as opposed to the local that serves the community.

I for one love my pub; well the bar-side anyway. It's possibly one of my favourite places in the world. It is the centre of everything non-pretentious and non-conceited in my village, where everybody is the same, no matter their background. It keeps me in touch with my community, where others don't even know their neighbours' name. I urge anyone who is reading this - go find your local, go have a pint with those that live around you, enjoy the beer, enjoy the company, enjoy life, enjoy the British pint.