By ABC's Louise Maher Posted January 10, 2012 08:14:16
Slim Dusty's famous song about drinking beer immortalises a bloke called Duncan – but it also includes a verse about Bob:
I love to have a beer with Robert, I love to have a beer with Bob.
We drink in moderation, just one more and back on the job.
We drink at the Town and Country, where the atmosphere is great.
I love to have a beer with Robert, 'cause Robert's me mate.
Former prime minister Bob Hawke has thousands of new virtual drinking mates after being captured on video sculling a glass of beer handed to him by a cricket spectator at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
The 82-year-old – who swore off the booze during his years in parliament – downed the amber fluid in one gulp as the crowd whooped and cheered. One supporter urged him on by calling out "One for the country, Robert".
As news reports have reminded us, this is the man who made it into the record books half a century ago when, as a student at Oxford University, he drank a 1.4 litre yard glass of beer in just 11 seconds.
The clip from the SCG has gone viral and has sparked questions about whether or not Hawke's behaviour was appropriate in a country where binge drinking amongst young people is rampant.
The Federal Government has spent tens of millions of dollars trying to stamp out binge drinking, but there are no obvious signs it has been a roaring success. People are still drinking to get smashed – just ask parents of teenagers or check out a city centre on a Saturday night. It's usually not about moderation.
Can sculling one glass of beer be described as binge drinking? Do former prime ministers have a responsibility to set a good example? Should they always presume someone might be filming them if they are in a public place? And if so, should they modify their behaviour to avoid the risk of offence?
It's been suggested that it would have seemed rude, or churlish, if Hawke had declined the beer. But couldn't he have just had a sip? It was more like he couldn't resist the challenge. It was the blokie thing to do.
So why is it still considered a great masculine achievement to drink a lot of beer fast? And why do you risk be branded a wowser if you even dare question it?
There's another issue that's been highlighted by Hawkie's new 30 seconds of internet fame. It's how much punters long for politicians they can relate to, that they can feel comfortable with. The man who offered the beer on an impulse as Hawke walked by has said he wouldn't have held out the glass to Paul Keating or John Howard. He's described Hawke as "a great Aussie bloke" and "a bit of a legend".
I'd argue that Australia's longest-serving Labor prime minister would have got the same warm response from the crowd if he'd just stopped for a chat. He didn't need to prove that he can still scull a beer.
But maybe by the age of 82 you're entitled to do whatever you like and old habits die hard.
Louise Maher is the Drive presenter on 666 ABC Canberra. See her full profile here.
Having a beer with Bob - The Drum (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
