Darwin Faces Higher Drink Costs
Monday May 18, 2009
Prices of alcohol are rising in Darwin and its surrounding region resulting in locals' outrage.
People who drink at the Humpty Doo Tavern, located in Darwin's rural area are not happy about the hike in prices at the bar that occurred on Wednesday.
Drink costs have increased by as much as 60c and a fullstrength schooner once costing $3.90 now costs drinkers $4.50.
However the Humpty Doo pub on the Arnhem Hwy and the Noonamah Tavern only charge $4.
Pensioner Peter Whip said the price hike was "ridiculous".
"These are city prices being charged at a rural pub," pensioner Peter Whip told the Northern Territory News. "You could've knocked me over with a feather when I was told the price.
"When it gradually goes up you understand but when it is 60c overnight it is ridiculous. You don't get much change from $5 anymore."
Mr Whip, 55, from Bees Creek, said he has reverted from VB full-strength to mid-strength because it is cheaper.
Humpty Doo resident John Robinson, 61, a regular pub-goer at Humpty Doo, prefers a Melbourne Bitter stubby, but was shocked to find they had jumped from $4.60 to $5.
Tavern manager Daniel Cross said that bar prices had stayed the same for the past two years.
"We've always tried to keep the bar prices as low as possible and have not put on the last six CPI, but you don't hear people complaining about that," Mr Cross said in Darwin.
"I've been around to other places and our prices are still competitive."
In Darwin city, a full strength schooner generally sets drinkers back about $5.
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