Bars shape the urban environment, create a place for communication that is not associated with home or work, and have a significant impact on the economy. It is not surprising that they have become the object of interest of many sociologists. Bar patrons may find it strange that someone visits such places not only to spend time with friends or drink good alcohol, but also for the sake of science. Nevertheless, thanks to a wide range of studies on bar culture and life, we can easily familiarize ourselves with the current problems of bars and catering establishments in general. Moreover, having studied such studies, the guest will be able to choose the bar in which he will feel most comfortable.
Some of the most developed topics in the sociology of bars are those related to the analysis of violence and aggression occurring within the walls of institutions. At the conference of the Southern Sociological Society, gender researchers in their report drew attention to the fact that the cause of many conflicts in bars is the conservative environment of establishments. Visitors often hold stereotypical views of the social role of gender and support the victimization of women. At the entrance to the establishment there is a formidable security guard, as if ready at any second to get involved in a drunken showdown, and miniature, sometimes provocatively dressed waitresses are running around the hall. The notions of masculinity and femininity become powerful regulators of human behavior, they dictate what is acceptable when dating, spending time together, etc.
Of course, the level of safety in bars is related to how much alcohol the guests consume. However, there are less obvious factors that influence a visitor’s sense of security. In a 2013 article “Fear of crime and affective ambiguities in the night-time economy,” authors from Oxford and the University of Utrecht analyze how the level of lighting, the presence of police and bystanders in nightlife venues in the city increase or decrease “fear crimes “among the guests. The term “fear of crime” refers to any negative feelings associated with anxiety, discomfort, nervousness, insecurity and panic.
The respondents noted in their answers that in most cases good lighting is calming. With a sufficiently bright light, the presence of other people is better felt, the visibility of the room increases, which allows you to see the actions of others. A large number of people in a bar also reduces the feeling of fear, in contrast to the presence of police officers nearby. In some cases, law enforcement officials are forced to ask the question: “Why did they come here?”, And this provokes a constant expectation of danger.
