In South Australia where a 475 ml schooner is called a pint (I'm not sure if it's pretending to be an Imperial pint or a metric pint), drinkers are already at a disadvantage. It's the only state in Australia where 475 ml is considered a pint. (See here.)
I pay between $7 and $10 for a pint of beer at present. The $7 rate is a special rate one hotel provides an in-house branded beer for and it's not always available. So, it's usually $9.50 or $10 for a pretend pint. So a night out with four or five beers is $50.
You can buy a carton of 375 ml beers (24) for around $50 or pay more for boutique and special beers. Some beer comes in 30 can size and costs less than or a little more than $50.
At just over $2 per unit for the 24 can pack or $1.60 per unit for the 30 pack cans, buying your packaged beer and drinking at home or from your own stock is much less expensive than hotel drinking. You don't have to pay for fuel to get there and back - fuel is also becoming increasingly expensive - and if you don't have a non-drinking wife like I have, you may also have to take into account not driving while inebriated.
God knows what the new prices will be, but they will no doubt have an impact on the number of people drinking and the volume being consumed at hotels. Another blow to an industry that has faced the rigours of surviving during COVID-19.
My trips to the hotel will definitely become less frequent and I'll probably have a maximum of two pretend pints.
Robin
