3e4
Subj : Beer is not free.
To   : richardw
From : Angus McLeod
Date : Wed Oct 19 2005 02:09:00

  Re: Beer is not free.
  By: richardw to Tiny on Tue Oct 18 2005 17:35:00

 >  > I /need/ to know how that stupid "Free as in beer" got started.

 > They mean free as in a tangible object you can pass around.  Free as in
 > no-charge.  Beer just seems to be the thing most people like getting for
 > free I suppose.  :-)

At one time, bars used to solicit lunchtime trade by offering "free lunch" 
to those who came in and bought beer.  (Ask RAH what he thinks about the 
"free lunch" concept!).  Restaurants countered by offering "free beer" to 
people who came in and bought lunch.  

I am not entirely certain why "Free Beer" became the mental image of 
something you didn't have to pay for.  It could have just as easily have 
been "Free Lunch" or even (I suppose) "Free Delivery"....


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 þ Synchronet þ Linus is a regular at The ANJO BBS.  No, Linus Brathwaite!

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