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0Britain's Pub Culture Faces a Mortal Threat: The Single-File Queue
The British have famously strict etiquette for queuing. Dare cut in line here and you'll quickly be met with scorn, or at least a tut. But there is one place where forming a single line has long been frowned upon: the pub.
For centuries, getting a drink in Britain has meant going straight to the bar, finding a gap and making eye contact with the bartender. No more.
More people are now ordering their pints from single-file lines, and it's driving pub purists to distraction.
"As British people, we absolutely love queuing. But the one place that we've never really done that is the pub," said Kelly Maxwell, who manages Neepsend Social Club & Canteen in Sheffield, England. "It makes it so long and tedious." She recently put up a new sign: Please stand at the bar.
The culprits? Most hardened pubgoers blame Gen Z.
Some younger pubgoers say it ensures fairness, instead of the old informal system where bar staff must keep tabs on who has been waiting longer.
"The whole single-file queue thing feels way more civil and respectful," said Ahona Das, a student in London. "No one's being rude, everyone respects each other's space, and eventually everyone gets their drink when it's their turn."
But for many older patrons, a single-file queue makes the pub feel sterile, like a supermarket checkout or passport control. The scrum at the bar is a key—and joyful—part of pub culture.
(is) frowned upon 被视为不妥行为
If something is "frowned upon," it means people don’t approve of it. They don't like it. They think it’s wrong.
Smoking is frowned upon in many restaurants.在许多餐厅里，吸烟被视为不妥行为。
Not tipping a waiter is frowned upon in some cultures. 在一些文化中，不给服务员小费被视为失礼行为。
to drive (someone) to distraction 让人心烦意乱
This means to annoy or upset someone so much that they can’t focus. They can't concentrate.
The constant noise from the street drove her to distraction.街上持续不断的噪音让她心烦意乱。
His little brother’s questions drove him to distraction while he was studying.他学习时，弟弟的连环提问让他抓狂。
hardened (+ type of person) 英 [ˈhɑːdnd] 美 [ˈhɑːrdnd] adj. We can use "hardened" before a type of person to describe someone who is very experienced, often in a tough or negative way.
She’s a hardened traveller who has been to over 60 countries. 她是个资深旅行家，足迹遍布60多个国家。
(a) scrum 英 [skrʌm] 美 [skrʌm] n. A "scrum" can mean a large, noisy, and crowded group of people all pushing together.
There was a scrum of reporters outside the court. 法庭外面围了一大堆记者，场面很拥挤。
At the concert, a scrum of fans gathered near the stage. 演唱会现场，一群粉丝挤作一团，聚集在舞台附近。
