It was definitely more in my younger years, when I had some hair. I ended up doing two of the Sitmar Cruises to the South Pacific on the fun ship. We had to take enough beer on board for the first day as the duty fee alcohol could not be sold until the ship had left Australian waters. I remember $1 per can of VB or Fosters.
Australia did and probably still has a bit of a drinking culture problem. People think they have it hard nowadays back then, it was possible to spend my whole weekly electrical apprenticeship wage in the pub, during working hours and have nothing money to take home. Possible I know because I did it but only once. It was expected, to fit in and be one of the boys.
Luckily I had two jobs, the guy on the right was my electrical tradesman and the guy in the middle was the assistant manger at the grocery store where I nights.
It was so long ago the green peace rainbow warrior had not been sunk by the French yet and was anchored next to us.
Once on board there were lots of things to do and new people to meet.
Every afternoon there was bingo I the main lounge. First off I thought it was boring but it was good for a rest and even better when I won! All those one and two dollar notes may have been really worth something now, but they were all gone before the end of the cruise.
Nowadays I very rarely drink at all but do occasionally enjoy one with a meal.
