Customs and Values Wisdom Humour
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Test of character "They are not a nation of snobs like the English or of extravagant boasters like the Americans or of reckless profligates like the French, they are simply a nation of drunkards." Marcus Clark (1) Australia used to be one of the world's great drinking nations. It is believed that during the Convict era, when rum was used as currency, the colony's inhabitants drank more alcohol per capita that any other time in human history. The high rate of consumption is understnadable considering that the first fleet brought enough food for two years and enough grog for four. Perhaps realising the dangers of a lone man drinking themselves into oblivion, it became poor form to drink by oneself. As one observer wrote in 1887: " All through Australia, in every class, it is not considered good form for a man to drink by himself. Very few even of the most hopeless drunkards ever do so. The consequence is, that when a man feels inclined to drink, he immediately looks out for someone to drink with" "At whatever hour of the day a mans meets another whom he has not seen for say twelve hours, etiquette requires that he shall incontinently invite him to come and drink. This is a custom that pervades every class in the colony, and cannot be departed from without something more than a breach of good manners." Finch Hatton 1887 Obviously, a society descended from criminals, dubious police officers, corrupt officials and cockney immigrants was going to have a fair share of sly characters looking out for their own self interest. Social alcohol consumption, or "shouting" probably became a type of character test. The shout is a pretence of a gift, but in reality, it is more of a loan. If an individual has a drink bought for them, and fails to reciprocate, it reveals a dodgy character looking out for themselves. (*see shouting etiquette below.) Wowsers have often been unable to appreciate the social side of the shout. As one wowser complained in 1887 : "Shouting", or rather its meaning, is peculiarly Australian. The shortest and most comprehensive definition of "shouting" is to pay for the drink drunk by others. Drunkenness is the vice of which "shouting" is a parasite. No other Australian vice has so large a vocabulary. " Prior to Federation in 1900, a great deal of politicising was underway in regards to who would be the Australia's first Prime Minister. It is no coincidence that the candidate that emerged was an alcoholic. Affectionately known as "Toby Tosspot" due to his fondness for a drink, Edmond Barton's qualifications for the job were noted by his biographer who wrote: "A public man who shouldered these responsibilities needed an ample appetite and a good capacity for alcohol. Barton was able to do justice to all these forms of hospitality". Just as the man who first led a federated Australia was an alcoholic, it is also quite fitting that Bob Hawke, the Prime Minister who changed Australia's national anthem from God save the Queen, was also renowned for his fondness for grog. So renowned in fact that he was immortalised in the Guinness Book of Records for sculling 2.5 pints of beer in 11 seconds. Australia's love affair with alcohol endured right up to the 70s when its per capita beer consumption was up with the great boozing nations of Ireland and Germany. Since then, alcohol consumption has been diminishing and now Australia is a teetotaller by world standards. Even though Australians are drinking far less than the past, there is a lionising of alcohol consumption which perhaps isn't seen in other countries. Furthermore, alcohol still plays a very important role in the social fabric of Australian society. University students often discuss their ideas at the pub after lectures. Boozing is often part of post-match celebrations of football teams. Most importantly, the shout is still the mainstay of the Australian pub. It is a custom that allows an outsider to be inducted into the social group and treated as if they are of equal status - irrespective of their socio-economic, political or national background.
The etiquette of a round (shout) "In tribal societies in which gift giving is economically important, there may be exchange of gift giving of identical (or useless) gifts which serve to maintain the relationship between donors. In Australia, the ritual of the round, known virtually to all adult members of society has some parrallel functions. It symbolise entry to a group (and, for that matter, makes pointed an exclusion). It binds a group together." National Times January 1978
Drink quotes: None of the men who in this country have left footprints behind them have been cold water men. Sir John Robertson Beer makes you feel how you ought to feel without beer. Henry Lawson Never have I seen such enthusiam for water - and so little of it drunk. Sir George Reid when opening the Kalgoorlie pipeline. Des will spend about 30 hours in the water on this swim. It's not natural for a man to go that long without a beer. Barry Rodgers, trainer of long distance swimmer Des Redford, speaking as his champion prepared to swim from Newcastle to Sydney. The population of Sydney (circa 1806) was divided into two classes, those who sold rum and those who drank it. Dr George Macakness Eventually every house in the (North Sydney) area will have a bottle collection crate and we'll be collecting more than Mosman. And the mayor told me, they're much bigger pisspots over here. Ron Walters The advertising industry lives a very cyclical life. December is the month for getting pissed John Singleton This feat was to endear me to some of my fellow Australians more than anything else I ever achieved. Bob Hawke in reference to his great beer drinking achievement. References (1)Mack P. Holt Alcohol: A Social and Cultural History, Berg Publishers2006
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Cultural comparisons Argentina America China Canada England France Germany Ireland Japan New Zealand Papua New Guinea South Africa South Korea
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