Kia ora!

I love your country and am having a blast but I do have a cultural question. Why do restaurants and bars here so adamantly not allow people to sit at the bar?

Maybe it’s the American in me but not having this is such a bummer, you lose out on the chance to get to know the people serving you your drinks which can be a real plus if you’re traveling solo(as I am) and just looking to shoot the shit with a proper local. There’s also a fun sense of camaraderie that occurs when you’ve established a conversation with the bartender and other people sitting around join in.

I have to assume this is a kind of binge drinking prevention measure, i.e. “if we don’t allow lonely souls to sit by themselves at a bar and wallow in booze they won’t do that” but from what I’ve seen you guys have no problem in the drinking department, haha.

Even when bars do have a few seats, it’s usually just one or two off to the side and you get looked at a wee bit oddly for choosing that option over a table(even if you have more than one person).

Just genuinely asking the question! Help me understand. Is this only in the cities? I’m in Wanaka right now and it’s even the case in a small town like this.

Cheers!