Why is a bar called a bar?

The word BAR as in Public Bar means the COUNTER where a person stands to order their beer.

Here in London the BAR in a pub is often called THE JUMP. The reason being is that the purpose of the BAR is to stop customers (drunken) from taking beer for free. It also acts as a secure barrier between the Bar Staff and their Customers.

Originally the title "PUBLIC BAR" also meant that the prices of beer sold in such a BAR were under the control of the local authority. This was done to ensure that the working man could afford his lunchtime pint of beer.

In the 18th and early 19th C no one ever drank plain water unless they wanted to die. Small beer of low alc was consumed instead. I think most of us including the kids were never quite sober and with Gin at a Penny a Pint things really did become quite serious. Binge drinking is not new to the British, it's very much a part of our way of life.

First answer by Adrianne Goff. Last edit by Adrianne Goff. Contributor trust: 1 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 2 [recommend question]