Origin & History of Bar
The History of Liquor Bars
Since the beginning of civilization humans have sought out places to eat, drink, and enjoy the evening. It’s built into the history of mankind! When you need a beer, and you need some food, you need a bar.
The Origin of Bars
Retail establishments that serve alcohol date back to Ancient Greece, where men would gather in the evenings for food, drinks, and music or theatrical entertainment. By Ancient Roman times, taverns were arising along roads and trade routes to meet the needs of travelers and soldiers. In England, up through the 11th century, public houses became places hold personal or business meetings. The British loved their pubs so much that laws were enacted during the 1600s making it illegal to not have a bar in town.
Originally alcohol, specifically wine, was primarily used as a medicinal agent, but has expanded overtime. In the United States, over the past century, alcohol has gone from an illegal enterprise during Prohibition to one of the most glamorous and profitable businesses today.
We can trace the traditional concepts of bars back to ancient Greece and Rome. Throughout cities and the countryside, taverns began serving alcoholic beverages with food to travelers. As time passed and more people gathered there, these taverns began to expand their businesses to include gaming as well as other entertainment. However, with the fall of the Roman Empire, the number of these taverns began to decrease and only offer food, lodging and stables for travelers.
In Saxon times, “public houses” came into existence in England, and became popular gathering places for business and personal meetings. When New Englanders began moving to the New World, “public houses” were such a large part of everyday life, that in many new colonies the town began building these (called taverns) before churches. In many towns, as far back as the 1650s it was illegal to not have a tavern offering a place for food, drink and lodging. Taverns are very integral in the fabric of this country, and it is said that the spirit of revolution that freed the new world from England’s rule was sparked in taverns.
By the 1800s, the purpose of taverns transformed into what we now call hotels, and at the same time many “saloons” appeared on every street corner. With such high numbers of “saloons” the profitability of these businesses saw a sharp decline. So to increase profits, illegal activities began being offered to patrons.
Alcohol Fun Facts:
• Alcoholic beverages have been produced for over 12,000 years
• Distillation was developed during the Middle Ages and alcohol was called “Agua Vitae” meaning the water of life- in fact it was required at all Treaty Signings at the time and it was also served with breakfast.
• In the 1800’s beauticians used alcohol for beauty enhancers: Rum was used to clean hair and thought to improve the health of hair and Brandy was used to strengthen the roots of hair.
BAR HISTORY OF KNOWLEDGE
History bar knowledge originally came from North America, where the bar at first known by the public in a few centuries ago, came to be known and favored considering the properties and other atmosphere than others.
In general people are very happy to meet at the bar, get together, talk about something in particular drinking alcohol. In accordance with the development of today's Bar, Bar not only as a meeting place or just for a drink, but also an entertainment place relaxing place after a day of work, disconnect and remove the tension while listening to music both indirectly (through the tape, compact disc, LPs) as well as directly from the singers, even we can dance on the bar.
DEFINITION OF BAR
Defining the bar is "a place or a counter, where one can get food and beverage service, both alcoholic and non alcoholic."
Initially known as the Bar or Tavern designation. Bar comes from the word "barrier" which means something is blocking, the wood separates the worker Bar (Bartender) with guests. Wood separation or barrier is called the "Counter", the counter has other functions that are equipped with high chairs called "Bar Stools". Bars Stools made in accordance with the wishes and tastes of a bar (Owner). In the bar guests can sit back order food and drinks they want. As a separator between the guest bartender, counter also aims to avoid the drunken guests into the bar and get drinks at the Bar
It's interesting that it is so much associated with English language as it comes from an old French word actually, itself coming from Vulgar Latin *barra rod", of obscure, perhaps of pre-Latin origin. The word "barre" also relates to the word barrier. It enters the English language between 1175 and 1225.