Australia is considered the driest livable continent in the world. Seventy percent of Australia’s land is either arid or semi-arid.
However, while Australia’s land is dry, most Australians are always “wetting their whistles” and are almost always at a bar to purchase beer or buy Australian spirits.
Australians value drinking as part of their culture. Alcoholic drinks are engrained in every social gathering in the country. It is most likely that you will have a hard time looking for a social gathering in Australia that does not involve any alcohol. It is also common for Australians to go out for drinks after office hours or even have a couple of beers during business lunches.
So, if you are visiting Australia for the first time, you need to be aware that you may occasionally get invited by locals to grab a drink or two. It is, therefore, important for you to have an understanding of the Australian drinking culture.
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Australian Drinking Statistics
Australians love to drink, but they are far from being the heaviest drinkers in the world. In a 2018 poll, Australians did not enter the top twenty heaviest beer drinkers globally, with only an average of 74.2 liters consumed per capita. On the other hand, Australians entered the top 20 in pure alcohol consumption with 12.2 liters per capita.
When going out for drinks in Australia for the first time, you should get to know who you are going out with. In a 2019 poll, close to 50% of the Australians confessed that they go out to drink to get drunk, which is higher than the 2018 statistics. Nevertheless, the Australian attitude towards drinking has significantly improved, with sixty-three per cent of bar patrons limiting their drinks to a maximum of two standard drinks only.
If you are with the younger crowd aged 18 to 24, you will be safe since these younger drinkers prefer to buy Australian spirits that have low alcohol content or will not drink alcohol at all.
How to Say No to Alcohol
If it is your first time to visit Australia, you may find it difficult to decline an invitation to drink. If you can handle yourself in a drinking session, then accept a drinking invitation and join them on their night out. You may end up earning a lifetime friend in the process.
However, you may turn down drinks without anyone getting offended by creating excuses such as being the designated driver or having to work early the next day. These are acceptable excuses to get you out of drinking alcohol in a bar.
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Choose Better Alcoholic Drinks
If you cannot say no to a drinking night out, do not worry. There are a lot of alternatives to alcohol. You can order water, juices, or soda at the bar. Your companions will understand your choice if you choose not to drink. You may also opt to buy Australian spirits that have lesser alcoholic content than established alcohol brands. Australian spirits are trendy nowadays, especially with the younger generation of drinkers.
Drink Safely
If you are to drink, you must understand your drinking capacity and ability. Ensure that you do not have any strong emotions about any subject when you go out to drink. You may end up drunk, calling an ex or calling your boss out. Likewise, do not consume alcohol too fast. It is best to pace yourself and determine how the last shot of alcohol affected your mind and body.
Going out for drinks with friends or new acquaintances is a good way to bond and get to know each other. However, when you are out to buy Australian spirits and other alcohol, remember to always keep safe.
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