A dive bar is typically a small, unglamorous, eclectic, old-style drinking establishment with inexpensive drinks; it may feature dim lighting, shabby or dated decor, neon beer signs, packaged beer sales, cash-only service, and local clientele. The precise definition of a dive bar is rarely agreed on, and is the subject of spirited debates, and while once considered a pejorative term, “dive bar” has more recently become a badge of distinction from patrons who seek authenticity in such establishments. Devotees may describe a bar as “very divey” or “not divey” and compose rating scales of “divey-ness.” Author Todd Dayton offers the following: “Dives [dive bars] are like pornography: hard to define but you know it when you see it.”

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