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bzzr
Student slang, especially University of British Columbia, British Colubmia
DCHP-3 (Sep 2024)
While the term bzzr is also used in other places today, e.g. by a US small beer brewery as a brand name, the term is of particular relevance in the BC context.
n. — often in compound nouns, e.g. Bzzr Garden
Type: 4. Culturally Significant — In the context of UBC student culture, the term bzzr to replace beer has acquired a special significance by the 1980s (see the 1988 and 2009 quotations). Contrary to common lore, the use of bzzr is not connected with the Canadian period of prohibition 1918-20, when alcoholic beverages were forbidden. The term is used in various contexts all across UBC Campus at Point Grey, Vancouver (see, for instance, Image 1).
The UBC student newspaper, The Ubysssey, includes from 1919 to 2023, a total 2614 tokens of beer and 498 of bzzr. Bzzr first occurs there in 1977 (see the quotation). From 1977 to 2023, bzzr accounts for 25.6% of all mentions of beer; a sizeable minority that demonstrates the enregisterment of bzzr in UBC student culture since the late 1970s. Image 2 shows the Ubyssey office in the 1970s, the era and context in which bzzr was popularized in the UBC student population.
The UBC student newspaper, The Ubysssey, includes from 1919 to 2023, a total 2614 tokens of beer and 498 of bzzr. Bzzr first occurs there in 1977 (see the quotation). From 1977 to 2023, bzzr accounts for 25.6% of all mentions of beer; a sizeable minority that demonstrates the enregisterment of bzzr in UBC student culture since the late 1970s. Image 2 shows the Ubyssey office in the 1970s, the era and context in which bzzr was popularized in the UBC student population.
Quotations
1977
PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION
Bzzr night, 6 to 10 p.m., SUB 212
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE
Noon hour film series Habitat Revisited, noon, International House upper lounge
Bzzr night, 6 to 10 p.m., SUB 212
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE
Noon hour film series Habitat Revisited, noon, International House upper lounge
1988
SUMMER HOUSING - V. afford - M/F - students & non-students. Kitchen/laundry facils., pay-TV, arcade games, bzzr mach. Relaxed non-res atmostphere.
2009
[HEADLINE]
the mystical origins of BZZR
[TEXT]
Many years ago, the RCMP and UBC bigwigs decided to crack down on drinking on the UBC campus. One of hte new rules they imposed stated that students could no longer advertise the availability of alcohol at social functions.
Under this rule, putting the word "BEER" on a poster would get the event shut down. However, the word "BZZR" was perfectly acceptable, and thus a tradition was born.
2022
Our monthly BZZR GARDEN is going bzzrless for March!Join us on March 25th, 2022 (Friday) at the Normand Bouchard Memorial Theatre (UBC Life Building) to watch Paddington 2 (2017, dir. Paul King)
References
- Urban Dictionary • bzzr (2003)
Images
Image 1: UBC Geography Students' Association, Gala poster, 23 Mar. 2017 (photo: GSA 2017 Executive Team)
