The Open Guide to London: the free London guide - Differences between Version 3 and Version 2 of Vertical Drinking

"Vertical drinking" is something encouraged by a lot of City pubs: drinking standing up, probably in a cavernous pub crammed to bursting point. Pubs where this is the policy have hardly any furniture in order to allow as large a crowd of people as possible to get inside. I think it's supposed to be enjoyed by "young people".

Personally speaking I find this to be a noxious practice, as it makes intimacy very difficult (you're squashed in a crowd of people who are all talking at the same time, and probably yelling to be heard above the music) and it's uncomfortable and tiring. Also, I really dislike having people push past or jam their elbows into me for hours on end, but your mileage may vary. --Earle