英國的酒吧文化

　Visitors to Britain may find the best place to sample local culture is in a traditional pub. But these friendly hostelries can be minefields of potential gaffes for the uninitiated.

　　訪問英國的人會發現傳統英國酒吧是最能領略當地文化的地方。但對于初來乍到的異國人來說，這些友善的酒吧卻猶如潛藏著有惹事危險的"地雷區"。

　　An anthropologist and a team of researchers have unveiled some of the arcane rituals of British pubs--starting with the difficulty of getting a drink. Most pubs have no waiters--you have to go to the bar to buy drinks. A group of Italian youths waiting 45 minutes before they realized they would have to fetch their own. This may sound inconvenient, but there is a hidden purpose.

　　一位人類學家和一組研究人員揭示了某些鮮為人知的英國酒吧文化。人們首先遇到的困難是從買酒開始的。大多數英國酒吧都沒有酒保，你得到吧臺去買酒。一伙意大利年輕人等了三刻鐘才明白他們得自己去買。這聽上去似乎讓人覺得不方便，可卻有它深刻的內涵。

　　Pub culture is designed to promote sociability in a society known for its reserve. Standing at the bar for service allows you to chat with others waiting to be served. The bar counter is possibly the only site in the British Isles in which friendly conversation with strangers is considered entirely appropriate and rea1ly quite normal behaviour. "If you haven't been to a pub, you haven't been to Britain." This tip can be found in a booklet, Passport to the Pub: The Tourists' Guide to Pub Etiquette, a customers' code of conduct for those wanting to sample "a central part of British life and culture". The trouble is that if you do not follow the local rules, the experience may fall flat. For example, if you are in a big group, it is best if only one or two people go to buy the drinks. Nothing irritates the regular customers and bar staff more than a gang of strangers blocking all access to the bar while they chat and dither about what to order.

　　在因其冷漠而出名的英國社會里，酒吧文化的形成是為了促進社會交往。排隊的時候可以和其他等待買酒的人交談。在英倫諸島上，和陌生人親切地交談被認為是完全適宜的正常行為的唯一場所可能就是吧臺了?你如果沒去過酒吧，那就等于沒有到過英國。"這個忠告可在名為《酒吧護照：旅游者酒吧儀俗指南》的小冊子中找到，它對那些想要領略"英國生活和文化核心部分"的人是一種行為準則。問題是如果你不入鄉隨俗的話，你將一無所獲。譬如說，你們若是團體前往，那最好是一個或兩個人前去買酒。酒吧?？秃途票Ｗ钅佄兜木褪且淮蠡锶艘贿吜闹贿呌謨炄峁褦嗖恢仁裁淳坪?，把通往吧臺的路給堵住。