Before social media we lived in the moment, and Mad Friday was generally a hazy memory or, at best, immortalised in a fuzzy digital camera image. Not having dodgy dance moves or Christmas carnage posted on Facebook was a blessing for those who embraced festivities a little keenly. There were no selfies, ring lights or smartphones, just old-fashioned socialising, drinking and dancing the night away.
But that wasn’t the only difference when it came to nights out 20 years ago. Cigarettes and cheap alcohol: Socialising was a bit different in 2004 Rolling back the years to 2004 takes us to Aberdeen before the smoking ban came in. The sights of ashtrays, open cigarette packets on tables and fags in hand indoors is an alien concept these days.
But back in the day it was the norm to spend your night passive smoking and then reeking of cigarettes the next day. The slightly fuzzy quality of the photographs isn’t just the basic technology of the time, but the clouds of smoke hanging above revellers. However, one thing we certainly wouldn’t be complaining about was the price of booze before inflation and minimum unit pricing.
Those were the days of drinks promotions, 2-4-1 deals and stinking headaches the following morning. . Not that the increase in drinks prices decreases the chance of a hangover.
.. Many of the Mad Friday venues in Aberdeen 20 years ago are long gone The venues have also changed in the last two decades, with some changing names, changing hands, or disappearing al.
