We step down into the dark room, letting our eyes adjust from the bright early afternoon sun shining through the clouds outside.
Just a small bar with a simple tap and a few stools, this pub is perfect.
“A pint for me and my pal here” Florian calls out to the keep.
Oh, he may not know.
I pull out my wallet just as he’s pulling out his.
“I’ll pay for mine.” I shutter in an undertone of covert immediate action.
“Put that away, You’re money is no good here.” Florian announces back, without any sense of propriety.
How could he not know?
Heads start turning our way.
“You’ve been away too long, let’s at least pay our own.” I reply, hoping to make this about holding my own.
He won’t have any of it. “Please, I can’t let you pay for yourself when I’m flush with cash I can’t spend at the front.” He blurts out, too loud.
Luckily, the barkeep, who is now standing with two pints of beer directly before us, simply states, “Sorry laddy, but the Queen won’t let you treat now. Each of you will have to pay your own way for these.”
Thank you, that saved me!
Florian looks at him, then looks at me.
“What are you talking about?”
The barkeep, in simple words, answers back, “New law, meant to keep folks from blurting out secrets.”
Florian simply stands still for a moment.
Here’s my chance.
I take a bill out of my wallet and place it on the counter.
The Barkeep then turns to me to ask, “Want change?”
Of course I want change!
“Yes, please.” I say as Florian pulls a bill out of his wallet as well.
“Want change?” the barkeep asks Florian.
“No thank you!” he says, while looking at me.
Ok, so you bettered me again. Fine.
“Drink your beer you bastard.” I laugh out as I bring the pint to my lips.
On August 8, 1914 the British Parliament passed the Defense of the Realm Act (DORA). This law greatly increased the powers of the government for the duration of the war, giving broad powers of requisition of property, censorship, and social control mechanisms aimed at winning the war. Among the laws provisions were a ban on flying kites, starting bonfires, buying binoculars, feeding wild animals bread, discussing any kind of military matters, buying alcohol on public transport, and most controversial, making it illegal for anyone to treat anyone else to alcohol at a pub. These measures were put in place in the belief that if people were not allowed to get others drunk, then no one would spill the national security secrets they possessed. People who broke the law with intent could be put to death. Britain was not alone in this law, as Canada passed the War Measures Act and the Emergencies Act as well. The United States passed the Sedition Act, and the Espionage Act, although these did not ban anyone from treating anyone else to a beer at a pub. Most of these laws were lightened up after the end of the war.
When World War II broke out these kind of laws came back. In Britain the Emergency Powers Act and the Treachery Act. Neither of which banned treating someone else to a beer.