To think music in evening venues is often played far too loud

[frogspoon]

I went out last night to celebrate a friend's birthday, and we all went out to a bar/ club.

The music was so loud that it was difficult for anyone to hear anyone else without shouting, and so now the following morning my voice is hoarse.

I have been to other social events recently in places with music so loud my ears often start ringing afterwards.

It's not like either of these were rock concerts, such social venues that played a bit of background music (nobody was dancing, just sitting/standing and trying to chat).

I really don't understand the need for the music to be this loud in a venue where the main focus is not the music but drinking or socialising. It is far harder to socialise where the music is so loud that you have to shout.

I feel that there is nowhere I can go to just have a nice quiet drink with friends.

AIBU?

I too feel like that but put it down to being old. What I wanted from a bar at 18 isnt what I want now at 40 but I think most bars prefer to have the young and the nubile than a bunch of old timers like me

Well I'm only 24, so not exactly old, and too loud music is something I've always disliked, even in my teens.

I just think it is a shame that the music seems to be so loud almost everywhere that there is no alternative option for going out to socialise.

I also know that loud noises can lead to hearing loss, and the level of noise in bars and clubs is well above ear-damaging levels.

I think bars with blaring music and no dance floor are pointless

You want somewhere with quieter music - go to a restaurant or a pub. Bars / clubs do tend to have louder music. Generally some people do like to have a dance, go on the pull or whatever rather than have a night out sat having a chat.

Loads of different types of places exist to cater to loads of different requirements so YABU.

I agree! Bloody annoying!!

You cant hear the music once the volume goes past a certain level, it is just one loud blur. I hate it, I start to get sensory overload, agitated and extremely anxious if the music is too loud.

I said this the other night. I got laughed at and called old

I hate music in restaurants and bars and try whenever I can to avoid it. It's usually so loud you can't talk and I get tired and ratty. I suspect, particularly in the case of bars, that it is intentional to make people drink more, well, you can't talk, what else are you going to do?

I have read somewhere there is a relation between loud music/people drinking more.

I remember it was given as the reason why most pubs do this, to get the customer spending more money (buying more drinks).

I hate it and would never go and spend money somewhere I couldn't hear myself think. I'm no good at shouting (seem to have a naturally very quiet voice ) so would be unable to socialise.

The pub a few doors down from us (tiny village, post office and corner shop and nothing else) is insanely loud until 1AM on Friday and Saturday nights. Doesn't bother my kids, but I couldn't sleep through it so now I just stay up till they shut. Does irritate me! I just think, well, I can make out the lyrics from here, how the hell can anyone actually IN the pub chat