Perhaps I am spoiled, coming from a city that is said to be the first in the world regarding bar per capita, but the truth is that the Lawrence bar scene isn’t really that great. Don’ people ever get tired of going to the same places that always play the same music and offer pretty much the same atmosphere?
What Lawrence really lacks is a more bohemian atmosphere. By bohemian I do not mean the artistic qualities, but an uncommitted and laid-back environment where one sits down and drinks for hours while talking about infinite things. A bohemian atmosphere doesn’t exist in Lawrence, and in part the United States, for mainly two reasons.
The first reason is because of the early 2 a.m. closing time. The measure itself is counterproductive. Instead of decreasing alcohol related problems it increases them. People drink quicker because they know they have a limited amount of time until the bar closes. This doesn’t give people the opportunity to relax and enjoy a beer while engaging in a conversation. In Brazil, I would spend several hours talking at a bar without ever really getting intoxicated. This sort of environment provides a great opportunity to actually meet and get to know people, and not just have someone grind on you while both of you are drunk. You actually remember a person’s name and information the following morning.
The second reason is because of the 21-year-old drinking age. This is an American cultural problem. The high age stipulation and prohibitive way most kids are raised with alcohol make a dangerous combination. Alcohol receives this mystic aura and becomes a fascinating stimulant. When underage people are able to get a hold of alcohol they feel they have to drink a lot so that they can have the “whole” experience. The U.S. and England are the only countries I know were it’s cool to get wasted; in the rest of the world that person would be seen as an idiot. Most of the American youth doesn’t understand that there is more to drinking that just getting drunk and that is not their fault. For some reason American society puts much less effort into showing the benefits of drinking moderately than into showing the consequences of drinking excessively.
Also, Lawrence has a very large underage population, and those that can’t get fake ids become segregated from the whole bar scene. College students tend to have a great mentality for bar discussion for they are outgoing, impulsive, hardheaded, and have very different points of views, usually more revolutionary, than older people. Their access to the bars would be a great contribution to society because in those environments wild ideas, philosophical thoughts, political conversations and criticism of establishment tend to flourish. This kind of environment is a catalyst for changes. The Greeks and the Romans knew this and some of the greatest ideas and discussions were nourished with alcohol, particularly wine. As the Romans said: “In vino veritas.”
Individual bottles are also something that bothers me. Every bar you go here you see each person with his or her own bottle. I think this exposes the individualistic nature of Americans. It’s very common in Brazil for people to go to bars order a large bottle of beer and share that amongst themselves. Each person has a small cup and whenever someone sees an empty glass that person takes the liberty to fill it up. This really connects the people who are drinking together, for they are all sharing something.
There are places in Lawrence were one can sit drink and relax, but that isn’t enough. A couple of places here and there don’t make a bohemian atmosphere. I do enjoy going out to a dancing environment but I think there’s a desperate need for more “sit down, drink, and talk for hours” sort of places. But even then something else is needed: Americans need to become more relaxed when it comes to alcohol.
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