Brits baffled as beloved pub drink ‘disappears from society’

The apparent disappearance of a much-loved British drink enjoyed by youngsters and adults alike has left Brits scratching their heads on social media. The fizzy drink, traditionally served alongside both bitter and lager, reached the height of its popularity between the 1970s and 1990s and was a staple purchase for supermarket shoppers and pub regulars. Today, however, it appears to be consumed far less frequently, as one Reddit user was quick to highlight.

The drink in question is typically a 50/50 blend of beer and lemonade, though it can also be savoured in a stronger form known as a lager top – usually a pint of lager with just a splash of lemonade added. “In the 90s it was one of the most popular drinks for older kids and adults, so why don’t people drink shandy so much anymore?” they asked in a post in the AskBrits community.

The question prompted one respondent to muse: “Probably coincides with the decline of traditional bitters and the increase in popularity of lagers,” they wrote. “A bitter shandy is a nice drink, especially on a warm summer’s day and I recall it being popular in the 80s. A lager shandy is, for some reason, horrible to me. ‘Lager tops’ were relatively popular 20 or 30 years ago, but I don’t know if they still are.”

A second Brit claimed: “I can confirm that the older generation are definitely the ones who scoff the most at shandies as somebody in the pub trade. The view is that it’s a waste of good beer. I’m inclined to agree, if I’m thirsty I’d sooner get a pint, and a half of lemonade to quench my thirst, rather than ruin the flavour of my beer. I’ve never had a shandy that tastes better than it’s main components.”

A third recalled: “Used to drink it as a kid, I remember the vending machines at our local pool sold them and me and my mates would all pretend we was p***** walking home!” While a fourth Reddit user asked: “Anyone remember Panda shandy back in the 90s?”

Others, meanwhile, are convinced that the shandy is just as tasty as it ever was. “I always get a shandy and my wife mocks me!” one Reddit user said. “Says it’s a waste of good beer, and to be fair it’s the exact same price as a pint, hmm if I bought half a pint and a lemonade it would be much cheaper.”

Another added: “My husband only drinks shandy. At the pub, always and he buys mini bottles of it for at home from Morrisons for £2.40 for 10 small bottles.”

A third fan of the drink exclaimed: “Always drink an ice cold one in the summer. Has to be ice cold though, to the point of almost frozen.”

While a fourth declared: “Oh I love a shandy! Neither my husband or I are big drinkers so we’ll sometimes get a bottle of beer and a glass of lemonade and make shandies when we go for something to eat.”