Australian State Government Cracks Down on the Crazy Drinks Sold in Bars

The Aussies love to drink–and they like to drink, er, creatively.  Forget just cans of Fosters and shots of Jaeger; when the Aussies make up their mind to get drunk, they aim to do it properly–including when they go out to a bar or nightclub.

However, the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing in New South Wales has decided that enough is enough. They’re cracking down on what they call “reckless alcohol promotions” to return some order to getting drunk.  Over the last year, OLGR officers have investigated more than 100 drink promotions that they figured might encourage reckless and/or binge drinking that could endanger the health of the participants or those around them. Forty-four of these promotions have now been banned.

Like what? Glad you asked. This is from InTheMix:

• A Darlinghurst cafe offering giant martini glasses filled with the equivalent of eight standard drinks;
  A hotel selling vodka-infused gummy bears and Barbie doll-themed cocktails;
  A Darling Harbour venue serving shots from buckets;
  A beer skolling competition on the North Coast;
  Cocktails served in plastic bags and milk bottles; and
  A ‘win your weight in beer’ promotion

You can see the issue. So the next time you head out to see a band anywhere in NSW, you may just have to make do with that can of Fosters.