There’s something deeply unsettling about watching a national tradition slip quietly into the past.
For generations, the simple phrase ‘my shout, mate’ carried more weight than any flag or anthem, symbolising generosity and mateship in its purest form.
Yet today, the echo of raised glasses in Aussie pubs is being replaced by the silence of hesitation.
Once, shouting a round was second nature.
It was a ritual that brought people together, offering both camaraderie and fairness, ensuring no one felt left out.
Now, it has become a financial gamble—an indulgence too costly for many Australians.
When a pint cost more than lunch
The latest tax hikes pushed the cost of a pint to around $15, making what was once casual generosity feel like a major expense.
A round for four could now stretch to $60 or even $80 before anyone dared order something fancy.
'A shout nowadays is about $100, which ruins you.'
Industry data showed the average price of a 425ml glass of beer had jumped 67 cents, or 6.2 per cent, in the past year.
Spirits rose even faster, with a 93-cent increase, or 8.7 per cent.
Since 2022, beer prices climbed by 10.5 per cent, while spirits surged 11.8 per cent.
The tax trap that strangled the pub
Australia held the dubious honour of having the world’s third-highest beer tax, only behind Norway and Finland.
Spirits were taxed even harder, with Aussies paying seven times the rate of drinkers in the United States.
Excise duties increased twice yearly in line with the consumer price index, forcing prices steadily upwards.
That meant 71 cents in tax on a schooner of full-strength beer and $1.25 on a whiskey before the pub added its own markup.
While the government argued the tax promoted public health and raised revenue, the opposite began to occur.
Proceeds from spirit excise were revised downwards by $1.7 billion over four years, showing consumers had simply stopped buying.
What Australia stood to lose
The decline of shouting was more than financial—it was cultural.
It symbolised egalitarianism, mateship, and the idea that everyone deserved their turn at generosity.
For seniors especially, the pub had long been a cornerstone of community life.
It was a place where friendships were sustained, news was swapped, and connection thrived.
Now, as prices soared, older Australians on fixed incomes found themselves excluded from a tradition they helped build.
Research revealed 43 per cent of consumers had cut back on going out, while 80 per cent said higher prices meant they would avoid buying drinks altogether.
The ripple effect on social life
Australians admitted to avoiding large pub gatherings, not out of stinginess but out of necessity.
One news.com.au staff member confessed: ‘I would actively avoid going to the pub with a big group of people if I thought I was going to have to shout.’
Signs the shouting tradition is struggling
The hesitation to shout carried consequences beyond awkward silences.
It weakened the social glue that held communities together, especially for older Australians whose main social outlet had always been the pub.
A wider industry crisis
The hospitality sector bore the brunt of the cultural shift.
While Australian businesses were failing at an average rate of 5.04 per cent, the food and beverage sector recorded a collapse rate of 8.5 per cent.
‘The hospitality sector is in crisis,’ warned Brewers Association of Australia CEO John Preston.
‘We've heard about bars, cafes, restaurants, pubs, and what they're going through... they're really struggling.’
Another industry leader summed it up: ‘What our drinkers are telling us is that it's becoming a luxury to have a drink with their friends on a Friday evening, and that's really sad.’
Adapting to survive
Even as the shouting tradition faltered, Australians found new ways to connect.
House parties with BYO rules became more common.
Splitting bills instead of rounds offered better control.
Happy hour meetups saved money, while coffee catchups or community clubs offered affordable alternatives.
The demand for connection remained strong—it was only the format that shifted.
Looking forward
Industry groups urged the government to reduce excise on drinks served on-premise, arguing the current system punished social drinkers without tackling problem drinking.
Whether reform arrived in time to save the shouting tradition was uncertain.
What was clear was that every raised glass now carried more than beer—it carried the weight of a fading culture.
What This Means For You
Shouting a round has become increasingly unaffordable, with a single pint now reaching $15 and turning a once-simple act of generosity into a financial burden.
Australia carries some of the highest beer and spirits taxes in the world, making social drinking even more costly.
These rising prices have disproportionately affected communities that rely on pubs as social hubs, limiting opportunities for connection and enjoyment.
The hospitality industry is also struggling, recording the highest failure rates of any sector, which threatens the very venues that once brought people together.
For the audience, this means that enjoying a night out with friends or maintaining long-standing social traditions is no longer straightforward—it requires careful budgeting, planning, and sometimes reconsidering how to stay connected with mates.
The rising cost of a simple night out isn’t just changing pub culture—it’s turning long-standing traditions into unexpected luxuries.
For a closer look at how these charges are affecting everyday social rituals, there’s a story that highlights the impact in real-life settings.
It’s worth checking out this example to understand the broader consequences of these financial pressures on social experiences.
Read more: 'It's just a shame': Massive 'un-Australian' charge turns Aussie tradition into luxury
Alcohol excise fuels inflation woes in Australia—Drinks Digest — Reports that the latest tax increases are expected to push the price of a pint at the pub to about $15.
https://drinksdigest.com/2025/01/08/alcohol-excise-fuels-inflation-woes-in-australia/
Inflation and tax hikes raising prices and hitting sales in Australia’s pubs and bars—CGA — Shows that the average price for a 425ml glass of beer increased by 67 cents (6.2 per cent) and spirits rose 93 cents (8.7 per cent) in the past year.
https://cgastrategy.com/inflation-a...nd-hitting-sales-in-australias-pubs-and-bars/
Inflation and tax hikes raising prices and hitting sales in Australia’s pubs and bars—CGA — Notes that since 2022, beer and spirits prices have increased by 10.5 per cent and 11.8 per cent respectively.
https://cgastrategy.com/inflation-a...nd-hitting-sales-in-australias-pubs-and-bars/
Major warning for Aussie pubgoers as beer prices set to rise again: 'Really bad news' — Highlights that Australia has the world’s third-highest beer tax after Norway and Finland, putting pressure on breweries, pubs, and customers.
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/m...-to-rise-again-really-bad-news-012725699.html
ATO tax hike on common Aussie item from today: 'In crisis' — Explains that Australia’s spirits tax is seven times higher than in the United States, while beer tax ranks third globally.
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/n...rom-monday-sector-is-in-crisis-190003443.html
ATO tax hike on common Aussie item from today: 'In crisis' — Notes that excise duty rates for alcoholic beverages increase twice a year based on the consumer price index.
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/n...rom-monday-sector-is-in-crisis-190003443.html
Inflation and tax hikes raising prices and hitting sales in Australia’s pubs and bars—CGA — Details that consumers now pay 71 cents in excise tax on a schooner of full-strength beer and $1.25 on a whiskey on the rocks.
https://cgastrategy.com/inflation-a...nd-hitting-sales-in-australias-pubs-and-bars/
Alcohol excise fuels inflation woes in Australia—Drinks Digest — Reports the Australian Government has revised down expected revenue from alcohol excise by $1.7 billion over four years as price rises reduced demand.
https://drinksdigest.com/2025/01/08/alcohol-excise-fuels-inflation-woes-in-australia/
Inflation and tax hikes raising prices and hitting sales in Australia’s pubs and bars—CGA — Shows that 43 per cent of consumers are going out less often than usual due to higher drink prices.
https://cgastrategy.com/inflation-a...nd-hitting-sales-in-australias-pubs-and-bars/
ATO tax hike on common Aussie item from today: 'In crisis' — Notes that a poll of over 2,100 people found 80 per cent would avoid going out for a drink because of increased prices.
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/n...rom-monday-sector-is-in-crisis-190003443.html
ATO tax hike on common Aussie item from today: 'In crisis' — Highlights that Australian businesses are failing at an average rate of 5.04 per cent, with the food and beverage sector having the highest failure rate at 8.5 per cent.
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/n...rom-monday-sector-is-in-crisis-190003443.html
Major warning for Aussie pubgoers as beer prices set to rise again: 'Really bad news' — Reports that the hospitality sector is in crisis, with bars, cafes, restaurants, and pubs struggling to stay open.
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/m...-to-rise-again-really-bad-news-012725699.html
ATO tax hike on common Aussie item from today: 'In crisis' — Quotes an industry leader saying that going out for a drink with friends is becoming a luxury, reflecting the broader impact on social culture.
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/n...rom-monday-sector-is-in-crisis-190003443.html
The implications of excise increase on the pub market—Australian Hotelier — Reports that industry groups are calling on the government to reduce excise on beer and spirits served on-premise due to its disproportionate effect on social drinking.
https://theshout.com.au/australian-hotelier/the-implications-of-excise-increase-on-the-pub-market/
As the price of shouting rose beyond reach, the question lingered—was Australia losing more than just a drink?
Seniors Discount Club
Latest Articles
-
Where old-school dining experience refuses to fade away: 'I used to come here'
- Started by Gian T
- Replies: 0
-
When a restaurant review turns into a legal battle: What every diner needs to know
- Started by Michelle Engbino
- Replies: 0
-
Don't fall for the protein snack con: Why seniors need more protein, but not from overpriced packets
- Started by Michelle Engbino
- Replies: 0
-
When home becomes a place of fear: The hidden crisis facing First Nations elders
- Started by Michelle Engbino
- Replies: 0
-
Kitchen floor at Palmerston Regional Hospital ripped up, replaced following food safety failure
- Started by ABC News
- Replies: 0
.png){kind=icon}
