Experiences - Snakebite memories

[Pondlife]

When I was at Uni (Hull in the UK) back in the early '80s one of the most popular drinks was snakebite, which was a 50/50 mixture of lager and strong cider. There were variations on the basic theme such as the purple nasty, which included blackcurrent cordial, and substituting bitter for the lager, but the core concept was beer and cider.

This was popular for two reasons: it was relatively cheap (about 50 pence a pint at the time), and it had a reputation for getting people drunk quickly. It's easy to see why it was such a hit with the students.

At that time, it was freely available everywhere: both in the student union bars and also in the town's pubs. However a few years later (probably around 1984) stories started to appear in the tabloid papers (especially The Sun) about this new "killer drink". Many of these stories were about how someone dropped dead after downing one and other such nonsense (I don't doubt that they died, but I'm sure that a single snakebite was not the sole cause). Soon the drink became infamous, and pubs would refuse to sell it, many putting up a notice saying "no snakebites".

Around this time, various myths were born to explain why snakebites were banned including: "you need a cocktail licence to serve mixed drinks" (rubbish - Gin and Tonic is available in every pub I've ever been in); "the alcohol content of snakebite is higher than either of the components" (defies logic); and "there is a chemical reaction that produces a toxic substance". Of course, the real reason was that publicans were able to refuse to serve anything that they didn't want to; the drink was never really banned in the legal sense.

Anyway, the solution was simple and effective: the "DIY snakebite" consisting of a half of lager, a half of strong cider and an empty pint glass. Problem solved. Surprisingly very few pubs would refuse this even if they wouldn't sell a mixed snakebite.

I'm not sure what the status of snakebite is in the UK now. I wonder if it's still "banned" for the old crazy reasons, or maybe the frenzy has subsided now.

[tinytom]

i have never had it might give it a go tonight.

[old hippie 56]

Seen the title, swim was thinking about real snakebites.

[Jatelka]

This is without a doubt the worst drink in the world (Except, MAYBE, Advocaat). SWIJ was at Uni in the 90's, and it was also, inexplicably, popular then!

The one time SWIJ drank it the results were even worse than the time she drank a bottle of Baileys and then had a Tequila Sunrise (Fnord: curdled vomit is definitely awful!)

It is still SWIJ's youngest sister's drink of choice for getting blotto. SWIJ cannot imagine why as it tastes like a dish-cloth (possibly one which has dipped in mouldy blackcurrant)

[JumpinJackFlash]

As a current Uni student I can still say that the snakebite is going strong in my union bar atleast. However it has been rebranded as the "Turbo Diesel", atleast I think its a snakebite, anyways in my home county of Somerset, known for its cider as i'm sure you know, the snakebite is also going strong.

Things have moved on however in the get-as-pissed-as-fast-as-you-can-with-fowl-tasting-oddly-coloured-drinks stakes, £3 in my local uni bar gets you a green monster half cider, half orange reef and a shot of blue curucao...had one once, and I can tell you it comes out the same colour it goes in.

Also can anyone confirm that drinking snakebite makes you more prone to projectile vomitting? or is that just a myth like "acid makes you wanna touch the flame"?

[shoobie]

Just wanted to drop in and share my affinity for this concoction. Although I have had it with guiness and cider. guess thats the yank version. Try it if you like. They float together like a black and tan. drink the guiness on the top and get to the yummy cider on the bottom. Cheers!

[geezaman]

SWIM would like to know if any SWIYs know of snakebite, (beer and cider) being sold currently from a bar without blackcurrant cordial added?

SWIMs uncle worked in a bar in centeral birmingham in this period, apparently (although he has a habit of embelishing stories) the sun or a similar paper sent eople into all the main bars and clubs in birmingham, and the one he worked at was one of the only ones to flat out refuse to provide snakebite (following the publicity over the death).
The way it was explained to SWIM was that the person who died had been drinking all night, but his freinds were buying him snakebite telling him it was just larger, so in effect he was conned into drinking over his own limits. SWIM wonders if thats why blackcurrant seems to now be added, to give it a distinct colour that is obviously not just lager. thats why SWIM asks if anyone can get it served without the blackcurrant? Where SWIM goes blackcurrant is always added, regardless.

[HandFedFred]

I used to drink snakebite and black all the time as a student. I heard rumers about it being banned but I don't think it ever was where I was.
It is strange that I liked it so, as I can't stand cider