Ordering Beer in Australia

 

Something that struck me while ordering beer on tap at a bar is the confusing names given to different beer glass sizes. I remember having a really confusing and embarrassing interaction with a bartender the first time I tried to order.

According to www.australianbeers.com, every state in Australia has different monikers for the right size of beer. And apparently, what one size means in one state could mean something totally different in another. In Victoria, you are likely to come across the options of ordering a pot, pint, jug, or schooner. And to the those unaware of the Australian alcohol nomenclature or the British imperial system, this can be confusing. Australia’s measurement system is based off of Imperial units. Whereas, measurements in the US are based off of US customary units. In Melbourne, you are most likely to come across the options of ordering a pot, pint, or jug.

A pot holds 285 ml (20 oz).

A British pint has a volume of 20% more than an American pint: The British pint holds 20 imperial fluid ounces (568 ml) while an American pint holds 16 US fluid ounces (473 ml).

A jug in Australia and New Zealand holds 2 pints, which is just over a liter of beer. It is similar to a pitcher in the United States.

As mentioned before, the names of beer glasses vary across cities and states in Australia. The graph provided below reflects the other names you might be confronted with while ordering in other states.

Drinking in Australia

Australia ranked second internationally on the World Health Organization’s latest Global Alcohol Report as the second highest total per capita alcohol consumption—between 10 and 12.4 liters of alcohol per year. Australians clearly like to drink and they are willing to pay hefty prices in order to do so: A Deutsche Bank report revealed Australian alcohol prices are about 37 per cent higher than the United States. This difference is evident when you walk into a liquor store—or what Australians like to call “bottle-o’s.” The difference is most pronounced when buying distilled beverages, since they are the most highly taxed form of alcohol.

For example, a 1.75 liter of Smirnoff Vodka costs $24.99 USD ($33.91 AUD) at BevMo’s—an American liquor retailer. And a 1.125 liter of the same vodka at Dan Murphy’s—an Australian supermarket chain—costs $41.93 USD ($56.90 AUD). So, in Australia, you’re paying more for less alcohol. But worry not, there are heaps of wines that are fairly cheap since wine is not subjected to the excise tax like spirits and beers are.