Your Shout: A History of Drink and Drinking in New Zealand

An account of New Zealand's constant, sometimes troubled, always fascinating and often humorous encounters with alcohol, from the early days of European contact to the present day. An entertaining account of an often much-maligned subject packed full of anecdotes relating to Kiwis and their encounters with alcohol over the years. Some of NZ's most amusing tales have been either associated directly with grog or have been fired by alcohol. Contentious issues like the Temperance Movement, the threat of Prohibition and the 'Six O'clock Swill' is discussed, along with some of the more amusing aspects of issues that were deadly serious to some. The impact of alcohol on New Zealand literature, folklore and songs and poems are just some of the themes covered. Characters associated with the drinking culture - good and bad - feature prominently. Sly Groggers, hooch makers, main trunk drunks, modern supermarket winos and many others tell their stories, as will beer barons, colourful barmen and women and modern winemakers.