pubs without drinking

France, so sophisticated LOL

Never heard of that to be honest, only in restaurants and only expensive, busy one's have I ever been asked "would you like the bill sir"? Which is IMO incredibly rude. As long as you've spent money or intend to at some point you can do what you like... hell you can go in and order tap water and sit there - I would be very surprised if someone asked you to leave.

Some pubs serve food all day, in smaller villages it will be lunch and evening service - this may well apply to some city pubs as well. Sometime (depending on the pub) you may also get a breakfast service - for example if it's a pub/hotel or B&B.

Plenty of people visit pubs and don't drink alcohol, so you shouldn't have a problem! There are lots of lovely soft drinks too choose from as they have to cater to the designated driver too! If you've eaten a meal you shouldn't be asked to leave your table, but, should that happen, you can stand and listen to music - there are never enough tables in pubs anyway, or rather, what I mean is that it is not compulosry to sit...

Pubs generally open at 6pm, if they're not open all day.

Sit long enough at a table without a drink in front of you if the place is busy (or maybe even if it isn´t), and you´ll be asked to either buy something or to leave.

Unlike many places worldwide, the pub is in the business of selling stuff to people, not running a drop- in centre.

Genuine traditional pubs in rural areas with good music are very unlikely to do food in the evening. If they do, it will finish by 8pm at the latest. Usually pub food is not great quality, even worse in the evening (in rural areas, people eat the main meal at lunchtime - its always better value to eat at that time in a typical Irish town or village). In more touristy towns and villages food will often be served until later, maybe up to about 9. You usually get better value food in Ireland in a proper restaurant - the cheapest in a typical town will be the local Chinese. If the weather is nice, just get some fish 'n chips and eat it outside before going to a pub.

Don't expect good coffee in an Irish country pub, but you can always ask for a pot of tea (best value IMO for hydrating after a days cycling). Don't go asking for decaff or green tea or something weird like that or they'll probably call the police. You'll get the usual soft drinks - Coke, 7-up, etc. If you want to blend in, ask for a rock shandy (a mix of orange and lemonade). You are unlikely to be kicked out, but it would be considered rude to be sitting a long time with empty glasses in front of you - after all, the publican has paid for the musicians, you are freeloading if you are not buying something.

The pub scene in Ireland is not a spectator sport :-)

That doesn't mean you have to be knocking back the pints, but it does mean that if you sit at a table for a long period without buying something.................then either the owner,staff or fellow patrons will say something to you.

Although if you are in a large venue it is easier to go unnoticed as a skin flint :-)

Hope you enjoy it

I wholeheartedly agree with all those who've said that you can't just go in and consume nothing. I wrote a lengthy response about this in another thread not so long ago. You don't need to drink alcohol, but you do need to keep patronising the establishment while you're there - and that means everyone in the group, not just one or two.

However, frankly, I am rather wondering about why you want to come to Ireland, and experience the pub scene generally, if you don't drink alcohol. It's a little like going to Athens with no interest in history! If I were you, I'd kick back, enjoy the trip and have a drink. You can drink alcohol without becoming an alcoholic you know. And if you've got some religious issue with alcohol, maybe the Irish pub scene just isn't for you. There are, as you point out, countries with a completely different cafe culture and maybe they would be a better match for you.

Wow. I can imagine that the Irish Tourism Board would wholeheartedly disagree with your entire patronising post... visiting Ireland and it's cultural heritage is not about going there to drink booze in a pub. However I'm sure the OP has no intention of taking any of your "advice" seriously.

I'd love to know if anyone on this thread has (honestly) ever been asked to leave a pub or other establishment because one or more of them hasn't been regularly drinking alcohol - I damn sure haven't.

Well #7, if you'd care to maybe practise your reading comprehension skills, you would note that this thread is about the pub scene rather than the broader range of cultural activities in Ireland.

Secondly, where did I suggest you would be thrown out of a pub for not drinking alcohol? More to the point where did I say anything about being thrown out of pubs? What I did say, as have others, is that you are expected to consume produce sold in the establishment whilst you are there. Just out of interest, what do you suggest the core business of a pub is?

Anyway, if you consider my post patronising, that's your right. Some people will always want to be offended. At least it's better than making a fool of yourself because you didn't bother to read the thread properly in the first place.

Go to a pub and not drink - is this some type of new voyeurism!! I think if you go to a pub, eat and drink soft drinks people won't blink an eye. If you eat your meal and drink soft drinks for the evening people wont mind - very normal. If you eat your meal than sit at your table and not buy another drink I doubt that you will be asked to leave but it would be a bit unfair on those people in the pub who want to eat and drink sitting down.

You don't have to go on an alcohol frenzy - try a small glass of the local brew - you may just enjoy it.

I supect you are looking for a tradional pub with good food and a great atmosphere. You will not be able to find a great pub with a fantastic atmosphere and buy a $5 Dollar meal.

So

A) Eat you meal and leave
B) Eat your meal, buy soft drinks and stay as long as you like
C) Buy some fish and chips and spend the evening looking through the pub window