#scooner

"Where is the rest of my drink?" I exclaimed to the waitress with a grin on my face.

After arriving on the back of Blighty's drinking culture I did not ever expect to have to search high and low for a pint sized beer. After all I came from a culture that drinks itself to the curb every single weekend and to even utter the words "I will have a halve-pint" (which is basically what a scooner is) would be greeted with mockery and flaming torches. I had turned up in September to a not-so-very-hot-to-Aussies 20 degreesish temperature and was craving a decent pint. However after paying a ridiculous $8, I picked up my kids sized beer and sauntered off into the corner to do what us Brits to best and moan of course. However my cousin went on to explain the reasoning behind the scooner.

There are reasons behind the existence of the scooner. One being that as it is so hot in Oz a pint would be too warm by the time you would get to the end of it. One thing these guys do well here is keep their beer cold and that's exactly how I want to drink it in the sun. You can finish the last drop of a scooner and it feels like ice as it pours down your dry pipes.  Scooner 1 - Pint 0 Grrrrr!

Another reason behind the scooner is to stop the drinking culture from getting out of hand like "like the Europeans" one Aussie pub goer told me. I have to be honest that my whole attitude towards drinking has changed greatly since being in Australiia. I immediately became aware that Australians drink to be social even when "out-out" and that is a reflection of the approach by people, the way liquor is sold, and in what measures. In England the younger population of 18-30's converse more like cave people the later the night goes on which I was definitely guilty of and thoroughly enjoyed for many years with the lads. However In Australia I can still be holding a decent conversation with the ladies and busting some less than half decent shapes come the end of the night which must only be a positive for the scooner throughout the night. Scooner 2 - Pint 0

In conclusion to my findings sod the scooner give me a pint!

Not really! There are definitely times I just want to be holding a tall glass of the golden nectar but have never had a problem with the scooner again. I even welcome it at the end of a long day or after a stroll across the beach. The one issue is will be how I will handle the pint as a standard serving if I go home. Go easy on me lads!

stay classy San Diego,