Bars tend to be social places.
They’re places where you can go with friends to enjoy some drinks and good times.
However, you might find yourself in a situation where you want to go out to drink, but no one else is available to join you.
If you decide to go to a bar alone, you may wonder if going to the bar alone is weird.
Is It Weird To Go To A Bar Alone?
No, it’s not weird to go to the bar alone.
In fact, a lot of people go to the bar alone.
Those who tend to go to the bar on their own are usually either looking for a solitary drink or are looking to meet someone new.
For the latter, they may be looking for love or just a casual hookup.
After all, the bar used to be the go-to place to meet single people.
As such, if you want to go to the bar alone, then it’s completely normal to do so.
7 Things To Do At A Bar Alone
1.flirt
One of the most common things that people do when going to a bar alone is flirting.
If you’re at a bar with a dance floor, for example, then a lot of the people you’ll see who are solo are usually looking to flirt.
They may be just interested in flirting or they might have an interest in pursuing a one-night stand.
There’s nothing wrong with going to the bar and flirting up a storm.
You’ll want to take some precautions to keep someone from getting the wrong idea, however.
Going to the bar alone gives you an opportunity to flirt and see if anyone is worthy of your time and interest.
It can be a bit harder to flirt when you’re with others.
For one, you might feel pressure from your friends.
You might feel as though they’re judging you whenever you strike out with a prospective partner.
Your friends might also make it more difficult.
They might heckle you or roast you right in front of the person you’re trying to flirt with and attract.
Even worse, the person you’re flirting with might end up fancying one of your friends instead.
As such, it’s not always a bad idea to go to a bar alone to do some flirting.
2. Drink What You Want
When you go to a bar with other people, you might feel pressured to drink certain drinks.
If you’re with a group of guys, for example, then it may only seem acceptable to drink hard liquor.
You can’t enjoy a good cocktail for fear of being judged as “less of a man.”
The same goes for a group of women.
They might expect you to stick with “girly” cocktails.
If you want something different, then they might judge your choice.
When you go to a bar alone, you’re free from those social constraints.
If you’re a guy and you want to drink some ridiculous and sweet cocktails, then you’re able to do so.
If you’re a girl and you want to drink some strong whiskey, then you’re able to do so.
You don’t have your friends with you to judge you based on what you drink.
This is also helpful for those who are new to the bar scene.
If you haven’t built up your tolerance for alcohol yet, then you might want to start with the more watered-down alcohol.
Drinking that in front of your friends might be embarrassing for you.
When you drink it on your own at the bar, you don’t have to feel that embarrassment.
Going to a bar alone means you can order whatever drink you want without worrying about what others think.
3.Play Trivia
One of the more fun aspects of some bars is that they have trivia games.
This is particularly common in bars that also double as restaurants or clubs.
To keep their diners and guests entertained, the bar will put together some sort of trivia night.
The content of the trivia varies.
Sports bars usually include sports trivia.
In other types of bars, the trivia can vary.
It might be about a certain decade.
It could cover a certain movie franchise.
It may even just be general trivia.
If you’re at the bar alone, then one of the best things you can do is engage in trivia night.
You might find the experience quite fun, especially if you’re good at the game.
It’s even possible that you might make some new friends during the game.
You might team up with someone you don’t know and discover you work well together.
You might even end up with a rival who’s a lot of fun to compete against.
Either way, going to a bar on trivia night can make the experience of drinking alone a lot more enjoyable.
At the very least, it’ll make the experience memorable.
If you’re going to a bar alone, then you should consider going on trivia night.
4.Watch The Game
A popular reason some people go to the bar alone is that they want to watch some sort of sports game.
This is why sports bars are so popular.
Not everyone’s friends are available when a game is on.
As such, they’ll head to their local sports bar to cheer their teams on with strangers.
Sports bars can become pretty rowdy if the right audience is there.
Even though you may have arrived at the bar on your own, it’s not uncommon for people to congregate in a sports bar.
They might share stories of their times visiting a stadium and watching a game live.
They might dish out some statistics and trivia that you didn’t know before.
Whatever ends up happening, going to a sports bar during a big game can be a lively event.
It doesn’t always have to be lively, however.
If you want a quiet place to watch the game, then those types of bars exist, too.
You may be feeling tired and just want a place to relax where you can also watch your favorite team play.
Some sports bars have quieter environments where you can do just that.
Either way, if you’re going to a bar alone, then you may consider going to a sports bar to watch your favorite team play.
5. Meet New Friends
Some people also go to the bar to make new friends.
Even if you don’t go there with that intention, it’s always a possibility.
When you’re drinking alone at the bar with a few other people there, you may hit it off and share stories with a stranger.
It may happen after someone has a few too many drinks.
They start to feel more relaxed and are more open to talking about their troubles or experiences.
You might find yourself connecting with them and end up sharing some stories, too.
By the end of it, you might have yourself a new friend.
Even outside of drunken confessions, you might find some new friends at a bar.
Whether it’s through trivia, bonding over a sports team, or just chatting, you might find some unique and interesting people at your local bar.
When you go to a bar alone, there’s a chance that you might make some new friends.
6. Get To Know The Bartender
The bartender is someone you’ll get to know pretty well when you become a regular at a bar.
They’re always there serving your drinks.
Since the bartender’s job is to serve those at the bar, they typically stay in the same place all day and night.
Waiters, on the other hand, move about the restaurant constantly.
Since they have several tables to serve, they’re always bouncing from one table to the next.
They don’t have the time to relax and speak with you.
Bartenders are a bit more relaxed.
Unless the bar is busy, they’re usually able to talk to you and share stories.
You might discover a few things about your bartender if you let them talk, too.
You might even get a friend out of it.
If you go to a bar alone and you’re feeling a little lonely, then you can always speak with the bartender.
7. Relax
A final thing that you can do at the bar alone is relax.
A lot of people come to a bar exactly for that reason.
They’re just looking for a few drinks to help them relax.
They might have a long or tough day.
It might just be a ritual that they have.
Either way, if you need to relax, then you can hit your local bar.
Some bars are quiet and very relaxed.
They might play quiet music and have a calming atmosphere.
That’s the perfect environment in which to enjoy a good drink to help you unwind.
If you’re going to a bar alone, then you might want to use the opportunity to relax.
How To Be Safe At A Bar Alone
1. Don’t Accept Drinks From Strangers
One of the best ways to keep yourself safe at a bar when you’re alone is to not take drinks from strangers.
Even if you saw them take the drink from the bartender, you have no idea if they slipped something in it when you weren’t looking.
Some people are experts at drugging drinks.
They can slip something into a drink without making it noticeable.
While it’s unlikely that someone is going to drug you if they offer you a drink, it is a risk that you need to consider.
If someone wants to get you a drink, then the best thing they can do is buy one for you.
The bartender can then serve you the drink directly.
Because of how risky it is, you should never accept a drink directly from a stranger when at the bar alone.
2. Invent A Secret Signal To Help With The Bartender Or Bouncer
If you’re on your own at the bar, then one of the best things you can do to keep yourself safe is to make the bartender or bouncer aware of your distress signal.
When someone starts to make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe and won’t go away, then you can use that signal.
The bartender or bouncer can then take charge of the situation.
They might distract the individual away from you.
They might escort them from the premises.
Either way, by having a clear signal, you can make those who work in the bar aware that you are not safe.
3. Make Sure Someone Knows Where You Are
Before you leave for the bar, it’s always a good idea to let someone know where you are going.
It’s also a good idea to regularly check in with them throughout the night.
That way they know you’re still safe.
It’s also not a bad idea to have some sort of code you can send your friends via text to let them know you’re okay.
That way, if you are in trouble and someone gets a hold of your phone to tell them you’re okay, they know that it isn’t you who is actually typing.
Finally, be sure to let friends know when you’re home and safe.
Otherwise, they might worry and call the police.
If you’re going to the bar alone, then you should always make sure someone knows where you are.
Conclusion
Going to the bar alone might feel weird, but it’s actually completely normal and common.
There are lots of things you can do at a bar alone, but you should also take precautions to ensure you stay safe.
