[originaltext] According to government statistics, men of all social classes

According to government statistics, men of all social classes in Britain visit pubs quite regularly, though the kind of pub they go to may be different and their reasons for going there vary, too. Nowadays they often take their wives or girlfriends, which used not to be the case.
    The fact is that the typical English pub is changing, partly because of the licensing laws not being so strict as they were, but also because publicans (酒店老板 ) are trying to do away with the old Victorian image of the pub. Pubs now provide couples with an. atmosphere where they can both enjoy them selves. Pubs used not to open except at certain times. The result was that they were usually crowded with men who seemed to be drinking as much as possible in the time available. But that kind of pub is rapidly becoming a thing of the past.
    Opening hours are still limited to eight hours a day, but the publican can now choose which hours suit him best. And these days you can even get a cup of coffee if you prefer it to beer. But in spite of this the Puritans would never dream of admitting that a pub could become a respectable place.