Sociology of the bar

Bars shape the urban environment, create a place for socializing that is not associated with home or work, and have a significant impact on the economy. It is not surprising that they have become the object of interest of many sociologists. It may seem strange to bar regulars that someone visits such establishments not only to spend time with friends or drink good alcohol, but also for the sake of science. However, thanks to a wide range of studies on bar culture and life, we can easily become familiar with the current issues of bars and catering establishments in general. Moreover, having studied such research, the guest will be able to choose the bar in which he will feel most comfortable.

Causes of conflicts in the bar

Some of the most developed topics in the sociology of bars are those related to the analysis of violence and aggression that occurs within the walls of establishments. At the conference of the Southern Sociological Society, gender researchers in their report focused on the fact that the cause of many conflicts in bars is the conservatism of the establishments’ environment. Visitors often hold stereotypical views of the social roles of genders and support the victimization of women. At the entrance to the establishment there is a menacing-looking security guard, as if ready to get involved in a drunken showdown at any second, and miniature, sometimes provocatively dressed, waitresses run around the hall. Ideas about masculinity and femininity become powerful regulators of human behavior; they dictate what is acceptable when dating, spending time together, etc.

Of course, the level of safety in bars is related to the amount of alcohol guests consume. However, there are less obvious factors that influence a visitor's sense of security. In a 2013 paper, “Fear of crime and affective ambiguities in the night-time economy,” authors from Oxford and the University of Utrecht analyze how the level of lighting, the presence of police and strangers in a city’s nightlife establishments increases or decreases “fear.” crimes" among the guests. The term “fear of crime” refers to any negative feelings associated with anxiety, discomfort, nervousness, uncertainty and panic.

Respondents noted in their answers that in most cases good lighting is calming. With sufficiently bright light, the presence of other people is better felt, the visibility of the room increases, which allows you to see the actions of others. A large number of people in a bar also reduces the feeling of fear, in contrast to the presence of police nearby. In some cases, law enforcement defenders are forced to ask the question: “Why did they come here?”, and this provokes a constant expectation of danger.

Can there be a “safe glass”?

Sociologists are not the only representatives of science who are interested in developing a bar theme. For many years, there has been an interdisciplinary scientific debate aimed at making bars safer places. In this discussion, experts are trying to find an answer to the question of whether a “safe glass” can exist. In the 20th century, some English bars began to write about using exclusively unbreakable glasses. In 1944, the first report was written challenging such a decision, since even an unbreakable glass could cause injury to a person. This work was called “No such thing as a safe glass.” The dispute, which began almost sixty years ago, turned out to be extremely tenacious and continues to this day.

Despite the above-mentioned dangers of bars, they still remain an attractive place to spend leisure time. Modern society is gradually starting to get tired of technology because it takes up too much time that could be spent more productively. Personal meetings and going online are growing into a full-fledged trend, so the desire to communicate one-on-one will again and again bring people to bars.