Pub Drinks
 

Just saw a similar post concerning France, so it made me wonder. What would be an appropriate drink to order in a pub if I don't want beer or anything similar? I don't normally drink (not for any reason other than I don't really like most drinks). I don't want to order something they wouldn't likely have, but here I usually only drink vodka and oj, or coconut rum with pineapple juice, or some other similar stupid sweet drink. Ack! Help!

Being a sissy myself :D I order "fizzy water" or tea. Although I have been known in pubs to order a Guinnesse..for some reason, while beer is not my drink of choice, Guinesse is sweet .. also, you could ask for a glass of Port or Sherry-ever so ladylike~ ((F))

Thanks Scarlett, I knew there HAD to be other sissies like me out there! :D

Then order vodka and orange. A pub is a bar and they have all the normal things you'd drink anywhere (except for frothy blended things, etc.)

Order gin, Vodka, whisky (Scotch), whiskey (Irish) or whatever. If you want an OJ, tonic or soda mixer you will get a small bottle with your order. If you want water, there will be a pitcher on the bar to pour your own.

Plus they have soft drinks, etc.

But do try the beer at least once . . . .

OOPS - we were all posting at the same time.

Oh - and if you want a wonderful sweet pub drink order a Pimms. The barman may shoot you a dirty look because if they do it right they have to slice fruit, cucumbers, pick fresh mint etc - but you will love it!

Pub? Going to Ireland? My wife will drink vodka & cranberry or grapefruit, but most pubs don't stock those mixers -- had to get our own.

Last time we were in Ireland, my wife discovered Smirnoff Ice (before you could get it in the states). It's a nice, cold, refreshing alternative to beer. ((b))

Sorry - I hate it when people forget to put their destination in the post! We are going to London.

Would it be bad form to order a White Russian? Do they call it a white russian? Just asking because at this resort in Jamaica, they had NO idea what we were talking about and thought we were trying to insult them. No idea why, so there is obviously something I missed!

HeatherH: "Pub" implies the British Isles and the drink of choice is certainly beer. Pubs are changing dramatically, but they often don't have a full bar so vodka might be out. But then, you can't even get a "ploughman's" anymore, but you can get a hamburger, So, who knows?
They do some things with beer to accomodate those that don't want beer. There is a drink called a black and tan where they mix beer half and half with seven- up, apple cider or some other sweet drink. Ghastly to me, but... All pubs have apple cider available, hard or not. I suspect, as the Pubs become more and more like American Saloons (unfortunate), vodka and other drinks will become more and more available. Good luck.

Great post. I too have trouble deciding what to order in a pub. I love beer but will only drink Miller Lite and I have yet to find it in London. Port is a great idea Scarlett I hadn't thought of that.

Most pubs will have a fridge full of "alcopops", which are usually vodka or rum-based drinks flavoured with fruit juice. Smirnoff Ice, Bacardi Breezers and Malibu are names that spring to mind, but there are loads of others.

Just tell the barman/maid what you like and they're sure to come up with something that will suit you.

Throughout the British Isles, girls are allowed to order pretty much anything without attracting very much odium. They are, after all, girls. In England, though, tea and coffee are OUT, except in seriously wimpy places (identifiable usually by a Cona machine behind the bar. You don't want to know what that stuff tastes like)

But they MUST order sharply, and within the rules of the round. Indecision irritates fellow-drinkers and barstaff.

If you insist on sweet stuff, like vodka and orange, be aware there's a very high chance the "juice" will be something you've not tasted the like of (I hope) for decades.

Stick with fizzy water or variants on apple juice.

you will find this refreshing, and it should be available in any pub. Fruit juice of any type splashed with 2 oz. of soda water, and topped with lime or lemon. Lots of ice, yummy. :S-

There is no 'protocol' as to what to order in a pub, anything goes. What I would say (tentatively!) is that the majority of British men would not be seen dead with half a pint of beer. It is seen as 'cissy' (being a bit of a wuss), so I would suggest men should try to order a pint even if it seems a bit too much volume in one go!

Variety is the spice of life! Wine, spirits with mixers (G&T, vodka and orange/coke, etc etc). Oh and do try the various different beers. Bitter is preferred by some as its not as gassy as lager. There is also Mild, Light Ale, etc. it could be fun to try them out.

I like Bass ale, myself, and hate the fruity sweet drinks, but I know you don't want that. I do like a darker, fullbodied beer but I find warm Guiness disgusting, maybe because it's sweet.

In the US, flavored vodkas have gotten rather popular, so why don't you ask for that instead of "vodka and oj" -- like Absolut Mandarin? Absolut has several different flavors now and it won't be laughed at.

Christina, I drink my Guinness cold -- it's wonderful. Try it again. It's sweet, but it's not "sweet." ((b))

Heather-have you had cider in the UK? It ROCKS!!! (I, too, am not a fan of beer). I drank cider and wine mostly.

I'm in the same boat, I don't like beer which is very inconvenient in the UK. Very few places will offer fru-fru blender drinks unless it's an American theme bar, and I noticed that they don't used names for mixed drinks like we do. If you ask for a screwdriver the bartender will look for a tool box, you need to request the ingredients, so I got used to ordering vodka and orange juice or peach schnapps and orange juice (aka Fuzzy Navel). Then I too discovered cider (it's alcoholic unlike the American version) - it looks like beer but tastes like apple juice. Scrumpy Jack is a popular brand. The only time anyone questioned what we ordered in a pub was when traveling with my siblings and my non-drinking brother asked for a coke in a bar in Edinburgh - the bartender was amazed that a man traveling with his three sisters was only drinking Coke!

My non-drinking British lady friends order lemonade and lime; a non-fizzy, not too sweet concoction of citron presse with Rose's lime juice.

I've adopted the custom and never run into a barman who could not provide it.

Most pubs also have coffee, a boon on a cold afternoon.

Have a great trip.

V.

My wife sometimes orders a lager and lime.