The Unbroken Beer Tab

The symbol of the unbroken beer tab is a universal icon for American college students.

This tradition stretches back perhaps as far as the invention of beer itself (or at least the settling of the Milwaukee area). It endows this small, sharp shard of metal with a deeper meaning.

For the uninitiated, it is customary when drinking beer from pop-top cans to attempt to remove the tab without breaking the thin ring surrounding the rivet holding it to the can.This is a task of varying difficulty depending on the brand of beer (and the number of cans previously consumed by the drinker).

Soda cans are too easy, so they don't count.

Once the tab has been successfully removed, it is bestowed as a gift on another person with the understanding that it can later be returned in exchange for sex. However, this is by no means a binding contract. So while a collection of unbroken tabs might be enough to stroke one's wounded ego, it does not guarantee the bearer that anything else is going to get stroked.

It doesn't even guarantee a hug or a kiss on the cheek.

But it does suggest hope for the future (hopefully the near future) and endless possibilities... endless passion... endless positions. Until you have to get up and go to class (yeah, right, like that happens...)

The message of the unbroken beer tab is "maybe." Maybe yes, maybe no.

Maybe the person who gave out that tab in your pocket was just so drunk they couldn't tell what a jerk you are.

Or maybe it was too dark to see you clearly.

But there is still hope.