Until the 1970s, Australian pubs were traditionally organised into gender-segregated drinking areas—the “public bar” was only open to men, while the “lounge bar” or “saloon bar” served both men and women (i.e. mixed drinking). This distinction was gradually eliminated as anti-discrimination legislation and women’s rights activism broke down the concept of a public drinking area accessible to only men. Where two bars still exist in the one establishment, one (that derived from the “public bar”) will be more downmarket while the other (deriving from the “lounge bar”) will be more upmarket. Over time, with the introduction of gaming machines into hotels, many “lounge bars” have or are being converted into gaming rooms.
Recent Comments