Amazingly for the British， who love queues， there is no formal line-up—the bar staff are skilled at knowing whose turn it is. You are permitted to try to attract attention， but there are rules about how to do this. Do not call out tap coins on the counter， snap your finger or wave like a drowning swimmer. Do not scowl ① or sigh or roll your eyes. And whatever you do， do not ring the bell hanging behind the counter—this is used by the landlord to signal closing time. The key thing is to catch the bar worker’s eyes. You could also hold an empty glass or some money， but do not wave them about. Do adopt② an expectant， hopeful， even slightly anxious facial expression. If you 1ook too contented and complacent， the bar staff may assume you are already being served.
Always say “please” and try to remember some of the British bar staffs pet hates. They do not like people to keep others waiting while they make up their minds. They don’t like people standing idly against the bar when there are a lot of customers wanting for service. And they do not like people who wait until the end of the order before asking for such drinks as Guinness stout③ which take considerably longer to pour than other drinks.
One Dutch tourist who spent six months visiting 800 of Britain’s 61，000 pubs and interviewing 50 publicans and bar workers and more than 1，000 customers said， “I cannot understand how the British ever manage to buy themselves a drink.” But they do， and if you follow these tips you should be able to do so， too.
Speaking of tips， you should never offer the bar staff a cash gratuity④. The correct behaviour is to offer them a drink. Pubs pride themselves on their egalitarian atmosphere. A tip in cash would be a reminder of their service role， whereas the offer of a drink is a friendly gesture.
① scowlv. 皱眉，绷着脸
② adoptv. 采取，采纳，吸收
③ stoutn. 烈性黑啤酒
④ gratuityn. 赏钱，小费
英国酒吧的礼仪
就爱排队的英国人而言，酒吧里看不到正式的排队，这令人感到惊讶。酒保有本领知道该轮到谁了。你可以做些动作引起酒保的注意，但有规可循。不要大声嚷嚷，不要在吧台面上敲击钱币，不要叭叭地弹手指，不要像快淹死的人那样挥动手臂，不要绷着脸，不要唉声叹气，不要翻动眼珠。在不该干的事当中还绝对不要摇晃挂在吧台后面的铃，那是酒吧老板用的，表示关门时间到了。关键是你要让酒保看见你。你可以举起空杯子或钱，可不要摇晃。你脸上可以流露等待、期望，甚至略带焦急的表情。你如果显得太心满意足的样子，酒保会认为他们已经为你提供服务了。
要把“请”字挂在嘴边，要尽量记住一些英国酒保最厌恶的事。他们不喜欢酒客拿不定主意而让他们等着；不喜欢好多客人等着买酒而有人却靠着吧台站着；也不喜欢有人等到最后才说要喝像爱尔兰烈性黑啤酒那样的酒，因为比起别的酒来，准备这种酒的时间要长得多。
一个曾花了半年时间，去了英国61，000家酒吧中的800个，访谈50位酒吧老板和酒保以及1，000多个酒客的荷兰旅游者说：“我不明白英国人是怎么给自已买到酒的。”可事实上他们就能。如果你按着本文所说的忠告去做，你也能如愿以偿地买到酒。
说到“小费”，你可千万别给酒保现金以表示谢意。正确的做法是请酒保喝一盅。酒吧为自己的平等气氛感到自豪。现金小费会使人想到酒保是伺候人的，而请喝一杯则是友好的表示。
