I've heard multiple theories:

  1. To facilitate alcohol consumption and thereby drunkenness.

This makes no sense as A) alcohol is cheaper at the store, and B) being drunk is an unpleasant experience that any rational being would seek to avoid rather than bring about.

  1. To facilitate social introductions and thereby physical and romantic relationships.

This makes no sense as A) every person there other than myself is always with someone else, belying the term "singles bar", and B) no one ever approaches anyone outside their own group.

These two explanations having been debunked, tell me what you think the real reasons bars continue to exist, let alone flourish, could be!