In every pub there always being a regular customer known for never buying his round

Publican Wally Bleach says that this customer is just one of several ‘types’ of which ‘every pub has one’ , his favourite being the regular who can make one tonic water last all evening. “He and the round-dodger who suddenly remembers he has a pressing engagement or finds he has inadvertently left his wallet at home are making it impossible for us publicans to make a living and are a sign of changing pub culture. Big round-buying has been in decline ever since drinkers have realized that one ‘shout’ will often cost as much as a small aircraft carrier as breweries keep passing on price rises to stay in business. Unable to stay afloat on drink sales alone traditional watering holes are either going to the wall in droves or having to reinvent themselves as fancy family-friendly eateries.The rot started to set in with  the smoking ban which has now made the air so fresh and clear that you can smell the toilets.

We’ve heard that moves are afoot to ban the sale of alcohol in pubs altogether so that bars can be used for play groups and chiropody clinics. It is then only a matter of time before government legislation prohibits drinking in all public places so that eventually neither the round-dodger nor anyone else will be able to drink anywhere at all ( except of course the Palace of Westminster) ” .( QQQ**)

(Biff Borish , Clapham) - enera