How to Order Drinks at a British Pub

The British pub has its own etiquette: you order at the bar (not at your table), pay as you go, and if you're with friends, you take turns buying "rounds". Here's how to order like a local.

• A pint of lager, please. — a PYNT ov LAH-guh — A full glass (568 ml) of beer. Ask for "a half" for a half-pint.
• What have you got on tap? — What draught (on-tap) beers do you have?
• Whose round is it? — Whose turn is it to buy drinks for the group?
• Same again, please. — Another of the same drink.
• Could I start a tab? — Can I keep a running total and pay at the end? (Not every pub offers it.)
• Cheers! — Used for "thanks", "goodbye", and as a toast — wonderfully versatile.
• Last orders! — What staff call out near closing; your cue to buy a final drink.

Knowing the ritual matters as much as the words. Practise ordering — and the small talk that goes with it — with an English speaker, and you'll feel at ease the moment you walk in.