I'm almost 30 and a man. From my perspective, it's been getting less and less socially acceptable to randomly approach people - the exception is if you have a group and try to merge with another group or bring lone people into a larger group. Also, it seems less standoffish when two people are both pretty drunk, but that's just a disaster waiting to happen.

I was never really a pick people up at bars type, but some of my friends were and the responses they got from just trying to get people to talk were sometimes pretty hostile.

I haven't dated in a couple years, but after college I used OKcupid and got set up with friends of friends. That worked out alright and neither cost money.

Just my perspective, but if I were looking to date right now with the goal of a relationship or long term dating, a bar would be the last place I'd be looking.