Have been saying this a long time also- bars absolutely suck for meeting people in.
At least when we were kids, we would put a party on in them first and everyone would come along then.
If it wasnt someone's birthday, we would just make one up.
I never did that part, but it was a clever ruse to get a sound-system in the place.
As for meeting people IRL @ middle age? I dunno. Answers on a postcard....
eta: Oh yeah, and I popped my head into the local drinkers bar today looking for someone.
Would need to have been drinking for days before I could enjoy a drink in there.
I have known this already for all of my adult life though.
