08-21-2004, 03:59 AM
Yeah... they've started doing that. One of my friends had a big rant at some poor bar maid about the definition of "pub". For those who don't know, pub is short for "public house". This is because of the proliferation of private clubs in England once upon a time. Public houses were open to the common man and didn't have any sort of fee to get in while membership at private clubs required a membership fee and frequently some additional requirement be met (like a family name, a common job, or even a haircut... OK... I made that last one up... but it could have happened).
So now our "pubs" have started charging a $1 membership fee good for one night so they can qualify as a private club and are exempt from the new law.
My buddy says it's only a matter of time before the politicians work out some way to shut down that loophole.
Here's an interesting side note that most people aren't aware of. Nicotine is not natural in tobacco. The tobacco companies add it for "flavour". Never mind that it's one of the most addictive substances on the planet. I wonder why nobody has tried passing a law that outlaws the addition of nicotine to tobacco. How many people would stop smoking if they weren't addicted?
So now our "pubs" have started charging a $1 membership fee good for one night so they can qualify as a private club and are exempt from the new law.
My buddy says it's only a matter of time before the politicians work out some way to shut down that loophole.
Here's an interesting side note that most people aren't aware of. Nicotine is not natural in tobacco. The tobacco companies add it for "flavour". Never mind that it's one of the most addictive substances on the planet. I wonder why nobody has tried passing a law that outlaws the addition of nicotine to tobacco. How many people would stop smoking if they weren't addicted?
Gullible isn't in the dictionary.