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A bar is a business that sells Alcoholic Beverage s for immediate on-premise consumption. (By contrast, a Liquor Store sells alcohol for off-premise consumption.) Some bars serve food or may be parts of restaurants. Bars that are part of Hotels are sometimes called ''long bars''. Alternatively, "bar" can refer to the Specialized Counter on which the drinks are served, and it is from this term that the establishment itself as a whole gets its name. The "back bar" is a (sometimes ornate) set of shelves of glasses and bottles behind that counter. Frequently when food is served elsewhere in the establishment, it may also be ordered and consumed at the bar. KINDS OF BARS A topless bar is a bar, where, as an attraction, personnel (usually female) are Topless . A biker bar is a bar marketed to and frequented by Biker s, often sharing the "outlaw" reputation. United States In the United States, legal distinctions often exist between restaurants, bars, and even ''types of'' bars. These distinctions vary from state to state, and even among municipalities. ''Beer bars'' (sometimes called Tavern s or pubs) may be legally restricted to only selling beer or possibly wine, cider and other low-proof beverages. ''Liquor bars'' sell everything from beer to hard liquor. Bars are sometimes exempt from Smoking Bans that restaurants are subject to, even if those restaurants have liquor licenses. The distinction between a restaurant that serves liquor and a bar is usually made by the percentage of revenue earned from selling liquor, although increasingly, smoking bans include bars too. In most places, bars are prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages ''to go''. There are some exceptions. Usually Brewpubs and Wineries can serve alcohol ''to go'', but under the rules applied to a liquor store. In some areas, such as New Orleans and parts of Las Vegas , alcohol may be prepared ''to go''. This kind of restriction is usually dependent on Open Container Law . Historically, the western United States featured saloons. These bars featured swinging doors, dirt or sawdust-covered wood floors, and spitoons. Whiskey was the most common drink. The establishment might feature a piano player, an adjunct hotel, and prostitution. Many saloons survive in the western United States, though their services and features have changed with the times. Newer establishments have been built in the saloon style to duplicate the feeling of the older establishments. United Kingdom In the UK 'bar' used to mean a wine bar, but now, 'Style Bars', trendy and generally high-quality drinking establishments are more common. However the main type of establishment selling alcohol for consumption on the premises is the Public House or pub. Pubs are not usually referred to as bars, though the distinction is becoming blurred. Bars are also areas that serve alcoholic drinks within establishments such as hotels, restaurants, and universities. Australia In Australia , traditionally the 'public bar' was where men drank, while the 'lounge bar' was where women drank. This is rarely the case in the 21st century, with many 'lounge bars' being converted into gaming rooms for Pokies . Elsewhere In most major cities of the world there is at least one Irish Pub . Some capitals such as Brussels have more than twenty. Bars range from down-and-dirty "dives" which are little more than a dark room with a counter and some bottles of liquor, to elegant places of entertainment for the elite. Many bars set a Happy Hour to encourage off-peak patronage. Contrastingly, bars that fill to capacity typically implement a cover charge, often similar in price to one or two cocktails, during their peak hours. Such bars often feature entertainment, which may be a Live Band (often of the Blues variety), a popular D.J. , or a variety ( Female Impersonation ) show. BAR-RELATED TRIVIA
Several fictional bars have featured prominently in television series, including the following:
Additionally, the concepts of retrobars and lounge bars also exist. SEE ALSO SOURCE EXTERNAL LINKS
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