Introduced in 1916, this wartime rule required pubs to close their doors at 6pm. It was meant to promote moderation but instead inspired the infamous “six o’clock swill,” where patrons raced to drink their fill before the clock struck the hour. Streets ran frothy with spilt beer until the rule was repealed in 1966.

For much of the last century, Sundays were intended for rest, not rum. Unless you had a hotel room or a club membership, a quiet drink was out of the question. It was not until the 1980s that brunch and Bloody Marys finally brought the ban to an end.

There was once a time when young people were forbidden not only to drink but even to stand in a bar area. While minors may now enter licensed venues with a parent or guardian, they cannot legally consume alcohol until they reach eighteen years of age.

Once upon a time, Melbourne’s laneways rang with laughter and the clink of longnecks. Now, many of these same streets are “dry zones.” Should one be caught with an open bottle in places like Federation Square or Bourke Street, the drink will vanish faster than the bubbles in a flat beer.

In certain suburbs, the people themselves voted to ban alcohol entirely. Areas such as Camberwell and Box Hill held fast to their sobriety well into the late twentieth century, a reminder that democracy can be as sobering as the law itself.

A modern rule with noble purpose. Every bartender and security guard must now complete training in the Responsible Service of Alcohol and has both the right and duty to refuse service to the intoxicated. What was once considered “good cheer” is now a matter of legal responsibility.

Gone are the days of bottomless pints and reckless promotions. Bars may still offer happy hours, but discounts are closely monitored. You can still find a good bargain, dear reader, just not one that ends in chaos.