Algeria Paradise

When I first came to Australia I was expecting very lax alcohol and drinking laws and the beer to inexpensively flow like water.  I was under the impression that Aussies were kind of lushes and just assumed it was because it was cheap and readily available, such as Mexico.  This is not the case unfortunately and the government has tried to enforce multiple obstacles in hopes of stopping the immense amounts of binge and excessive drinking here, but trust me they have failed.  It might cost you a lot more and be much more of a hassle to get your hands on some booze, but that doesn’t stop this lovely country from getting their drink on.

Taxes

Everything is expensive in Sydney, but alcohol is sooo expensive it’s seriously disgusting.  At bars, clubs, restaurants, and in the “Bottle Shops” the amount they charge for booze here should be illegal! For example, if one were to buy a bottle of Smirnoff here it would cost about $40, in the US $12, and a good bottle like Grey Goose will cost you $90, in the US $40. Ew. Right?  Plus who even drinks Smirnoff?  Even a 6 pack of Corona’s or other import can cost you $20 at a local bottle shop in Bondi.  Wine is the one alcohol that you can get at a decent price.  Most younger Aussies and backpackers drink “Goon” which is boxed wine, that is disgusting, but for $10 you can get around 3 liters.  The origin of goon comes from the Aboriginal translation, which means pillow, because the Aborigines would drink the goon wine and then blow up the bag for a pillow.  Classy huh?  I’m hooked on a great $10 Rosé that I discovered at my local bottle shop on Beach Rd, and my most recent obsession, thanks to my fellow American Liz, is Passion Pop, which is a $6 bottle of sparkling goodness that does the job.

Laws

In addition to placing ridiculous amounts of taxes on of their booze, they also have tons of laws and rules they have put into place.  RSA class or Responsiblity for Serving Alcohol, is a mandatory class for anyone that plans to serve alcohol for a job.  It was a 6 hour lecture about the dangers of drinking, binge drinking, “drink” driving, and the laws surrounding serving alcohol.  It was not a fun day and of course I went straight to the pub after for a beer.  Also the fines for serving minors or over-serving someone can cost you up to $11,000.  Alcohol can only be purchased in bottle shops aka liquor stores, and is usually not for sale after 10pm.  Most bars highly monitor who they’re letting in and will ask you how many drinks you’ve had, and if your answer is more than 2 they usually will deny you entry and tell you to come back later, which you then just head to another club.  Drinking on the streets and in public places is not illegal unless stated on a a sign, so that’s nice.  Finally the limits that they have imposed at sporting events, such as cricket, are horrible and you aren’t even able to get a full strength beer.

Hot Messes

Everyone knows Aussies are big drinkers and they know how to have a good time, and I love them for that.  I thought I was prepared for this but I was sorely mistaken.  Since I’ve been in Sydney I’ve learned the hard way that there is absolutely no way I can keep up with the Aussies.  I don’t know how they do it.  They will drink all day, while at a barbie or whatever it is they do, and just continue into the nighttime not even phased.  Well I mean they are usually wasted, or pissed as they say, but somehow keep it together.  I can’t do it, I’m one or the other: day drinking or night drinking.  Also a new term I’ve learned is to “skull” a beer, which would be like “pound” or “chug” in the American culture.  Oh yes all these life lessons the Aussies are teaching me.

Getting Around It

If you’re coming to Australia for a holiday or to move I would recommend buying the maximum amount of booze at the duty free store in the airport to save yourself some money.  These bottles will come in handy for your pre-drinking activities and your new best friend in Oz, your flask.  In the bars here a cocktail will literally be one shot, which is 30 ml aka about an ounce.  This caught me by surprise since I’m used to the states where normally your single cocktail will end up being a at least a double.  It’s actually sobering to drink single drinks here and is super expensive.  This has turned me into more of a beer girl and of course I am still enjoying my wine.

Don’t let this article leave a bad taste in your mouth about Australia.  It is unfortunate but believe me there are tons of things that make up for it in this country.  Hope this was useful information and gives you a better idea about what it’s like to drink Down Under.  It really hasn’t slowed me down, in fact Australia has made me much more of a lush but everything in moderation right?  Please comment and give me some feedback regarding topics you would like to know more about while living in Australia! Thanks!

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