These small local bars are usually illegal in the US unless they’ve been grandfathered in. The solution probably isn’t some fancy new membership scheme, just literally allowing them to exist in the first place. At least, we should try that first.
In the US especially post WW2 we implemented a zoning system which mostly groups the same type of building (residential, commercial, industrial) together.
In a place with residential zoning you can't just build a pub without getting an exception to that zoning approved.
So many Americans living in residential suburban houses have to get in their car and drive 5-20 minutes to get to some sort of commercial center, strip mall, shopping area, etc. that has stores, bars, and restaurants.
There is starting to be a major pushback on this as people realize that having nice towns (not even necessarily cities) with dense mixed-use centers of walkable apartments, townhouses, shops, restaurants, bars, etc. is actually both pleasant and good for business. In the strict separate-zoning model you tend to get more chain establishments and fewer interesting local options because things are spread out and there isn't enough foot traffic in any given place to win over new business.
They're discussing relatively urban areas. As an American who has lived in the middle of nowhere, every little town still has a pub. I've been in many towns with nothing but a post office and a bar to servic the under 100 residents.
I would bet it is simply an emergent phenomenon of individual interests coalescing. Everyone wants commercial establishments near them, but not next to them.
Same as having lots of space for yourself, but also living near everything.
