During the months before I started my trip to the United States, many of my friends kept telling me how different the nightlife was from what we are used to in Spain. They literally said that outside of our country there is no bar culture. Well, after almost two months in these parts I can only say one thing: the hell!
Bar culture exists all over the world, all young people like to go out at night and relax after a week of hard work, all university students go partying, it is stupid to deny it. In all countries there is a bar culture and the only thing that can be doubted is whether the differences are too radical and, for this reason, I am writing this post.
###Beer!
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While in Spain young people (and young women, the minister is not going to get angry) drink gushing calimocho, the drink par excellence in the US is, without a doubt, beer**. And as a beer addict that I am, I love that.
While itâs difficult to find reasonably priced imported (a.k.a. European) beer beyond Heineken, the variety of brands made in North America is insane. We can find everything from wheat beers with a sweet touch of orange (Blue Moon) to light beers (truly popular), to compensate for the excess of bacon in bar appetizers.
Of course, if you donât like American beers, you can find any Mexican beer you want, highlighting the blonde âCoronaâ and the wonderful âDos Equisâ.
Also, as I already mentioned in the first post I wrote, beer prices are devilishly competitive, finding brands from $1.50 and being able to take advantage of the offers during Happy Hour, in which for $4 we can get a 2-liter jug.
The Atmosphere (no, itâs not about gays)
The biggest difference compared to Spanish bars is the atmosphere. If in Spain 90% of the bars base their appeal on psychedelic lights, pillbox attractors and music to bring out the onion; In the US, the handicap that imposes not being able to enter certain establishments until the age of 21 has imposed a more relaxed, more adult and less hormonal environment. It is a rare bar where appetizers are not served (hamburger and bacon are essential) or an area of ââthe premises has been dedicated to placing a couple of pool tables and some dart targets.
And it is something perennial in all bars. Billiards is omnipresent in American society. And no, it is not like those crappy tables that we can find in Spanish bars. They are real tables, cared for, reupholstered every so often, accompanied by chalk for both the cue and the hand.
Of course, music accompanies this more adult atmosphere. Maybe itâs because America is the cradle of Rockân Roll and Iâm a staunch fan of this style, but itâs nice to walk into a bar and listen to everything from the Beastie Boys to Bryan Adams to Bon Jovi.
No tobacco, thank you
](https://bocabit.com/sociedad/%c2%bfcultura-de-bares.php/attachment/tabaco-no)Sigo sin entender el revuelo que se ha organizado en España, mås allå del ansia de algunos por salir en los periódicos, con la prohibición de fumar en el interior de los bares.
In the state of Virginia this law has been in force for years and no bar has gone bankrupt. Whatâs more, I know bars that are full even on Tuesdays. And of course, no smoker has a problem going out to the terrace for 5 minutes to have a cigarette. In fact, even at parties in private homes, people go outside if they need to smoke, something unthinkable with the Spanish mentality of: I do what I want.
I could go into more detail on this topic, but it deserves its own post that will come in due course.
Happy Hour
Itâs something we see all the time in Hollywood movies, but you donât appreciate the true meaning of Happy Hour until you experience it. In fact, one comes to wonder if it is worth leaving the house later than 9 and paying for things at normal price when from 5 to 9 you get them at half price.
As an example, I will only say that the usual cuba libre (no, donât order a free cuba in the US⊠for what may happen) is a paltry $2.5 during happy hour. Of course, full of ice, like any American drink.
And what if youâre tired of bars? Donât worry, because if you live in a university community like Blacksburg, there is not a weekend in which a House Party is not organized, yes, an American-style party.
House Parties
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Itâs something I never believed. I saw them in American Pie and other similar movies, but I always thought they exaggerated⊠well, they donât.
There is nothing more typical in America than organizing a party at your house, filling it with strangers and beer. Something completely crazy if youâre not used to it. I have been in houses with more than two hundred people, disco lasers and awesome music equipment⊠even strobe lights in the living room!!
And, of course, there is no party without Beer Pong. This game, a substitute for our well-known hard game, consists of getting Ping Pong balls into the opposing teamâs glasses, thus making them drink. In the video below you can see an explanation of how to play (and I have to say that Iâm not bad at it :) ).
And of course, little by little, beer by beer, it is easy for the game to get out of hand, the rules become flexible and we end up seeing things like this (all the more reason to play):
(This is Bocabit, tits are mandatory)
So, in summary⊠Bar culture only in Spain? The balls.