It's happened to all of us at some time, having a drink at a pub, relaxing with friends, work colleagues or whoever when you notice you've finished your beer, yet for some reason you don't feel quite satisfied.
Nevertheless you press on, buying your buddies the next round as the night progresses, you seem to wonder that despite the fact you've had 6 beers, you're not quite as drunk as you would expect. Not one to back down, you press ahead not realising that you have been the victim of the "schmiddy."
For the readers out there that aren't as seasoned as the rest of us, the "schmiddy" is a drink size somewhere between a schooner and a middy. The reason you may not have heard of this measure, is that if you order a schooner at a pub which serves these, a schmiddy is what you will get (mind you it's unlikely that the person behind the bar they will tell you).
If this is not the most un-Australian thing I don't know what is. In a country 4th on the list of 'beers consumed per capita' one would think the beers would be getting bigger yet the trend towards the schmiddy continues.
Now if your local pub is willing to tarnish Australian drinking tradition in exchange for a profits then find a new local.
Whilst this trend has been defended by the industry bodies on the basis of shrinking margins and increased competition, this argument would seem to be a little flawed due to the fact poker machine rooms are rife with free food, soft drink and other assorted incentives to keep people gambling. Now surely if margins are so slim, then pubs simply shouldn't be able to afford such luxuries.
The second argument one might make against the dreaded schmiddy is a little more potent, given it is enshrined in statute law. Without going into too much detail, when you order a schooner, you are in fact entering into a contract, whereby you will receive a schooner of beer in exchange for an agreed price (Trade Practices Act). If the bartender just so happens to return with a schmiddy without telling you, this is a breach of contract and illegal. In the used car industry, this technique is called "bait and switch" and is outlawed Australia wide, yet pub enthusiast fall victim to this every day.
In conclusion we would love to see the schmiddy follow in the footsteps of the dodo, VHS and most Australian Idol winners never be seen again.
Nevertheless you press on, buying your buddies the next round as the night progresses, you seem to wonder that despite the fact you've had 6 beers, you're not quite as drunk as you would expect. Not one to back down, you press ahead not realising that you have been the victim of the "schmiddy."
For the readers out there that aren't as seasoned as the rest of us, the "schmiddy" is a drink size somewhere between a schooner and a middy. The reason you may not have heard of this measure, is that if you order a schooner at a pub which serves these, a schmiddy is what you will get (mind you it's unlikely that the person behind the bar they will tell you).
If this is not the most un-Australian thing I don't know what is. In a country 4th on the list of 'beers consumed per capita' one would think the beers would be getting bigger yet the trend towards the schmiddy continues.
Now if your local pub is willing to tarnish Australian drinking tradition in exchange for a profits then find a new local.
Whilst this trend has been defended by the industry bodies on the basis of shrinking margins and increased competition, this argument would seem to be a little flawed due to the fact poker machine rooms are rife with free food, soft drink and other assorted incentives to keep people gambling. Now surely if margins are so slim, then pubs simply shouldn't be able to afford such luxuries.
The second argument one might make against the dreaded schmiddy is a little more potent, given it is enshrined in statute law. Without going into too much detail, when you order a schooner, you are in fact entering into a contract, whereby you will receive a schooner of beer in exchange for an agreed price (Trade Practices Act). If the bartender just so happens to return with a schmiddy without telling you, this is a breach of contract and illegal. In the used car industry, this technique is called "bait and switch" and is outlawed Australia wide, yet pub enthusiast fall victim to this every day.
In conclusion we would love to see the schmiddy follow in the footsteps of the dodo, VHS and most Australian Idol winners never be seen again.
Source...