Hmm, maybe? I'd say it's more like you said upthread, that it's done in a group setting instead of individually. Though you might be alone in a bar, it's a group setting if you didn't go there with the person you hooked up with.

The usual thing is that you're there talking to someone (and if it works, kissing them and making out) and your friends are around, talking to you and stuff. The new couple might disappear or move away temporarily for more privacy. It depends if your friends are cool with it or not.

And yes, definitely more public kissing involved.