It’s just not right for PMs to be seen downing a schooner

When it comes to pollies having a beer, the politics are all in the eye of the beer-holder.

Coca-Cola is just as bad as tobacco, says a new lawsuit getting up against the drink maker in the US. The Sydney Morning Herald reports, ­yesterday:

The Coca-Cola Company is being sued by activists who compare the beverage giant’s advertising tactics to the tobacco industry’s past efforts in minimising the health effects of its products and targeting children to replenish the ranks of its customers.

At least they’re not encouraging kids to mix up some bourbon with their Cokes. The Huffington Post Australia’s Chris Harrison on an alarmist note, Tuesday:

Regardless of how you define it — “a few noisy ones” if you’re a participant; “binge drinking” if you’re in public policy — alcohol is a social lubricant in Oz. It’s the liquid equivalent of loosening your tie. In most social situations we need a drink to kick things off. No XXXX, no party. But according to the latest poll by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education … the party has got out of hand and Australia has a drinking problem.

Even our former prime ministers seem to encourage binge drinking. Nine News, Wednesday:

Former prime minister Bob Hawke has made a tradition of sculling a beer at the Sydney Cricket Ground, today repeating the feat he performed in 2012. Channel 9 footage shows Mr Hawke raising his beer in preparation, and the stadium screen then cut to show him sculling the glass.

Once upon a time, Hawke’s ritual would raise eyebrows. 666 ABC Canberra presenter Louise Maher was worried about this five years ago. ABC News website, January 10, 2012:

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 … So why is it still considered a great masculine achievement to drink a lot of beer fast? And why do you risk being branded a wowser if you even dare question it?

Nowadays it’s likelier to be Tony Abbott who cops a serve for having a drink. The lately quietish Destroy the Joint draws a long bow after the then prime minister had a schooner at a university rowing party, Twitter, April 18, 2015:

@TonyAbbottMHR #MinisterForWomen schools men on the link ­between alcohol abuse & #domesticviolence

Fairfax Media’s Judith Ireland struck a similar note, Fairfax websites, April 19, 2015:

Perhaps it is that it was an unmistak­ably and assertively macho act — amid a chanting group of hyped-up dudes. And that it came from a prime minister who has been trying for the last 18 months to convince us that he is also the minister for women.

By this logic, this may be the moment the Left really fell out of love with Malcolm Turnbull. Herald Sun, August 29 last year:

The Cold War between Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the man he deposed, Tony Abbott, appears to be thawing slightly after the pair caught up over a beer.

After all, correlation isn’t causation, but … The Australian, August 30 last year:

Malcolm Turnbull’s popularity has tumbled to new lows and support for the Coalition has slipped since the election eight weeks ago, leaving the government and Labor deadlocked at 50-50, according to the first Newspoll since the government’s narrow ­victory.