Pub Culture - Early 1980's

As a student in London 1979-82 I worked at the last of 8 pubs that are in an orderly line through Highate Village. The hours were 11am-3pm and 5-11pm I think and people drank huge quantities in very short windows of time. Typically, 3 blokes popping in at  2.30 would each pay for their round in advance drink a pint straight down, refill it and then possibly reorder another pint at last orders with their 3rd pint. A minimum of 4 pints in 1/2 an hour.The culture and practise was speed drinking. Although pubs knew food made money there was no appetite for it, bar Sunday, as it cut into precious drinking time. However toasties and Golden Wonder crisps were permitted at night. Drinkers queued up at 5 or was it 5.30 and this is when you got the huge rounds which protocol dictated broke up at 9 and then it was flying solo, doubles, Malibu-never wine (preserve of wine bars) and never out of a Cider was bottle (still15 years caway.)The drink selection was pitiful,but compared to what.The bar was set low.Draught bitter was a shocker and only old boys mixed it with a bottle of light ale.Always out of a jug.Everybody else had a straight glass and had the choice of Skol or Long Life. Only the many Irish drank Guiness and they looked disapprovingly at the grey white top. Skol is awful and this is why the habit of a top developed to disguise it. Lemonade,black currant,lime.