"Bar Tan"

A few people asked the definition of a "bar tan" after my 100 Things About Me post.

I Googled the term and was surprised to find no definitions--at least, not as I define the phrase. In my college days, we frequently referred to "bar tans."

UrbanDictionary.com says a "bar room tan" is the redness of an alcoholic's face due to broken blood vessels from years of alcohol abuse. This isn't quite the meaning I attribute to the term.

In my social circle, a "bar tan" is the red flush that accompanies drinking an alcoholic beverage. Here's what ecureme.com says about it:

"On the skin, alcohol causes dilation of surface capillaries (tiny blood vessels), resulting in facial flushing and a pinkish-red hue to the cheeks."

Asian people are more prone to this redness--even after just one or two drinks. (See this Go Ask Alice! article.)

Basically, whenever I have a drink or two, I always end up with a flushed face that I call a "bar tan."