Did your arcade serve... BEER?

[JustinMSalvato]

I don't know any that did, but in the following video, I see people drinking beer. Arcades are rowdy as it is!

 

 

The channel it came from: Video Game Stars

[VectorGamer]

I'm not aware of any place that was a dedicated arcade that served alcohol BITD

[mr_me]

I don't think that video is from 1983. I always thought only kids (teens) played video games in the early 1980s. I know thats not true but what percentage of arcade game players were adults in the early 1980s? Anyone know.

 

Edit: I can't say from personal experience but I'm sure there was lots of arcade games in the bars. They say that Pong and Pac-man were popular because you could play one-handed. The other hand free for a beer or smoke.

Edited April 7, 2017 by mr_me

[JustinMSalvato]

I don't think that video is from 1983. I always thought only kids (teens) played video games in the early 1980s. I know thats not true but what percentage of arcade game players were adults in the early 1980s? Anyone know.

 

Edit: I can't say from personal experience but I'm sure there was lots of arcade games in the bars. They say that Pong and Pac-man were popular because you could play one-handed. The other hand free for a beer or smoke.

 

No, it was filmed fairly recently, but it got me thinking about arcades in general.

[Turbo-Torch]

I don't recall any. In most areas it would be a fine line between being considered a bar or nightclub and no one under 21 would be allowed in. In the 70s and 80s, a kid could not even walk down the liquor aisle of a drugstore or grocery store. The aisles literally had a tubular gate or turn-style entrance.

Also, just about every arcade had strict rules about no beverages near their video games. Think of the daily damage from spilled beer by buzzed players, or worse, games kicked and punched by irate drunks.

 

I always thought only kids (teens) played video games in the early 1980s. I know thats not true but what percentage of arcade game players were adults in the early 1980s? Anyone know.

 

I remember having to fight my way around far more adults than kids my own age.

Also amazing how there was next to no obesity back then!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdNBk_liGvw

 

[Omega-TI]

I don't remember any arcades back in the day that served booze. I do remember the local bowling alley had a bar that had more than a couple of arcade games though. Nothing more funny than watching a totally drunk dude drop $25.00 worth of quarters into a Ms. PacMan wondering why he's not able to get his usual high score.

[Keatah]

Thankfully no. Nothing is more annoying than a gameroom full of drunkards.

 

257 nearby has a full menu however. But it is more a family crowd with security. So that's alright.

Edited April 8, 2017 by Keatah

[Shawn]

I think the SEGA center in Toronto sold booze. Outside of that one arcade any of the ones I went to didn't serve booze but most did allow smoking.

[AtariBrian]

We have a bar/arcade by me that serves food and alcohol . Lots of arcade machines and I think nes games at every table .

[zzip]

In the state I lived in, it probably would have been difficult to get a liquor license for a beer arcade. The only one I can think of was a pizza shop that sold beer and had a game room.

[xybot67]

Nope, but the arcade I frequented was in a strip mall right beside a nudie bar (that I occasionally went to even though I was only 16 - they served beer!)

[+GoldLeader]

BITD No...As we were all younger. These days, It's a beautiful luxury if they do! I know of many Barcades, but I also know of arcades, like in the old days...I prefer ones with beer nowadays!

[scotty]

Dudes...... Nolan's rodent served beer! Most bar's had video games back in those days.

 

http://www.chron.com/entertainment/restaurants-bars/article/Chuck-E-Cheese-s-has-always-served-beer-and-6555998.php

[scotty]

Here is a Washington DC area review from 1982.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1982/08/18/chuck-e-cheeses-pizza-time-theatre/c8e7a6fe-8f60-4f13-9443-e968f3edb458/?utm_term=.84c6204d17eb

[Stewart_Pidd]

Dudes...... Nolan's rodent served beer! Most bar's had video games back in those days.

 

http://www.chron.com/entertainment/restaurants-bars/article/Chuck-E-Cheese-s-has-always-served-beer-and-6555998.php

The Chuck E Cheese we had in town back in '83/'84 sold beer as well. They had one room dedicated to sports TV, and they had a good selection of beers on tap.