Photos: Skipping the bar line

The student union's Rayhan Rafiq Omar says the touch screen ordering will save students having to wrestle with a throng of drinkers to get served. The union is also looking at new ways to earn money from the tables, including opening the system up to advertisers.

The tables are all waterproof and can fold down to let students rest their pints on them. In addition to ordering drinks, students can use the built-in screens to send text messages, play games and soon even to order taxis. A system to request music from the student radio station is also expected to be added.

For those with a little Dutch courage, the tabletops enable users to chat with fellow drinkers by sending short messages, similar to using instant messaging. A list of preprogrammed pick-up lines is also included--and if they prove successful, there's the option to send another student a drink or credit for one.