We love the pub. As everyone knows, it is short for "Public." You could call it an izakaya, a cafe, a coffee shop, or even a noodle house. And of course, it is a place to drink beer. For someone like me who travels to many different places, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been saved by the fact that those generously open pubs were exactly what they were: pubs.
I love people I get along with, but I’ve never once thought, "I only want to be surrounded by people I know." I want to be surrounded by people who might be mysterious, perhaps scary, or perhaps kind—while I myself shift back and forth between those roles in the eyes of others. There is a comfort in being a small part of that greater whole, and I believe such a place should exist everywhere, at all times. I’ve always wanted our beer to be a part of that "public" scenery.
However, circumstances changed, and a situation arose that threatened the pub. I don't believe this state of affairs will last forever, but the memory that it can happen has been etched into us. (Though, perhaps we'll forget the pain once the fever breaks.) Because of this, some people may have stopped approaching the "public" altogether, and that’s understandable.
This can is not an endorsement of that disconnection. In fact, it’s the opposite. I want you to take this can to your "public." That might be with someone precious to you, or somewhere where no one else is around. You can even use it inside your own home to face the "mysterious stranger" that is yourself—because that, too, is a pub.
For what it’s worth, the day before this site opened, I spent the afternoon alone, sharing a single can between the "self I know" and the "self I don’t." The sun was shining as if to celebrate, and it felt incredible.
I’ve sealed those feelings inside this can, like a magic spell. On this planet, I believe they call it "alcohol." Apparently, on some planet that uses "dog years," you can enjoy it from the age of three—but here, you can't benefit from its effects until you're twenty, so be careful.
But that doesn't mean you can't access the "pub." Anything that is open to everyone is a pub!