Belly Up and Shut it Down

It's Friday night and you get a text saying that your group of friends are going out for drinks. Perfect! You throw on a coat, walk out the door, and build up your expectations for the great night that you all are about to have. You get to the bar and hear the jukebox pumping. Your best friend has already ordered the first round (what a good guy) so you meet him and the rest of the group at a high top near the back. But a gentle white glow illuminates the faces of everyone at the table and this is when it hits you that tonight isn't about having a good time with friends. No, tonight is about everyone sitting on their phones and fabricating the great time their having on Instagram.

I may be sounding like an old man demonizing today's youth for not appreciating the way things used to be, but it really is a shame how bar culture has transformed. Things such as the bar room debate have completely faded from existence. Ten years ago a guy would assert that Tahoe is West of LA and a spirited debate would ensue with each side defending their opinion with instinct and anecdotes. Now, somebody just pulls out their phone and case closed. What a buzz kill. I know there are some who share my sentiments. There is a bar in Chicago, Harry's Velvet Room, that gained national press for their decision to ban the use of phones. "You're there to be social with your friends, date or whoever. You need to pay attention to them a little bit more than what's on your phone or what you're posting," said owner Dion Antic.

It's not just phones that are taking attention away from those that you are with, but also an overabundance of televisions at bars. Not every bar needs to have a TV just to have one. Sports bars are a great place to watch a big game that you may not get at home, but why do you need to have CSI playing at a wine bar? I've seen several pubs and breweries start to adopt this mentality by cutting off the wi-fi, removing the TVs, and bringing the focus back to socializing with those around you. So next time you're out with your friends, consider shutting down your device and giving your undivided attention to the memories being made (that you may not remember in the morning).

Za zda-ró-vye!