Is Pub Culture Really Dying? Why Going to the Pub Matters More Than You Think

When I was little, I always thought of the pub as something reserved only for the likes of my grandad and his colleagues. I’d often tag along to play in the beer garden with my friends, but it was unusual to see young adults choose the pub as their meeting place. Whenever a group of adults below the collective age of 150 did happen to wander in, though, it was fun to imagine my friends and I doing the same when we were older. 

I realise now that I’m probably around the age those young people were when I first spotted them. And it turns out, the pub is very much popular among students. Even if you’re not an avid pub-goer, I’m sure you can say you’ve been to the pub at least once while you’ve been at uni. How can you not, when so many social events revolve around the pub? The first sign of spring? Pub garden. Society club night? Pub crawl beforehand. Even when arranging a catch up with friends, floating the idea of going for a pint is never off the table. 

And yet, there is a rhetoric that pub culture is dying. The statistic that one pub a day closes for good in the UK not only worries me for nostalgic reasons, but also because, in my view, the pub is a great opportunity to socialise.

It seems that young people are held responsible for this decline in pub culture, with many choosing healthier habits and spending their money elsewhere. Let me say now that this is by no means a bad thing; if uni students are choosing to save their money and their liver, that’s great. But while the fact that many pubs are struggling cannot be denied, it’s unfair to say that young people are the only cause of this decline. Other reasons, such as the cost of living crisis and the average price of a pint rocketing upwards, play a big role. 

Despite this, from personal experience, it’s a struggle to find a seat anywhere in the pubs my friends and I frequent. When a table does free up, it’s hard not to notice how people have come prepared with playing cards and are dressed for the occasion. 

This leads me to believe that perhaps pub culture is not dying, but simply changing. No, not as many adults incorporate a pint after work at their local pub anymore, but students and young people often go to celebrate something, socialise, or watch a big sporting event.

Spending money as a university student or young person in general is no laughing matter; no one’s denying that. But if you can support your local pub by popping in every now and then, even if you’re only going for a glass of coke, you can help contribute to a thriving community atmosphere. And, in a world where social media often replaces face-to-face interaction, this is crucial. After all, what beats a pint and a catchup with friends?