I think the volume of live and recorded music played in pubs in the UK has increased dramatically. I think one factor is that PA systems have got cheaper and more importantly lighter. In the "old days" if you wanted a 2K rig it would cost you an arm and a leg, and you needed Transit to shift it (and at the end of the night what a pain in the arse). Now you can fit 2K in a car and still have room for another band member. As a result I've seen bands playing small Pubs with that amount of power and a back line with the drums miced up. To my ears the sound is excruciating and I usually listen outside. Unfortunately there is a saying "If its too loud your to old" and there's a bravado thing going on here. At the end of the day it's our hearing and only we can look after it. All the best PP.