MONTY BENFICA | Amusements | CONTACT
A local girl that recently came back from a 3 month Euro summer trip is disappointed to discover that street drinking on the streets of Brisbane doesn’t quite hit the same as it did by the river Seine in Paris.
Like many Aussies, Lucy Campbell (24) found her finances in shambles after her trip. However, she took comfort in knowing that her new favourite hobby, street drinking—discovered during her time in Europe—was at least something she could still afford.
With a bottle of wine and a glass in hand, Lucy and her friend headed to Queen street mall to soak up the bright lights of the river city.
“Back in Rome you could find groups of all ages sipping wine on a warm evening, it’s so communal and fun, I loved it”
Unfortunately that communal and fun atmosphere appeared to be lacking when Lucy and her friend sat down for a drink at the busy pedestrian thoroughfare.
“We were quickly approached by a couple of weathered older men that were drinking methylated spirits, they wondered if I had a cigarette for them” Lucy recounted.
“I told them I only vape but they didn’t quite understand what that was I don’t think”
Unlike in Berlin, where people passing by would give Lucy giant smiles and even stop by for a drink, Brisbane didn’t seem to offer the same level of tolerance.
Parents were seen clutching their children while others quickly got onto their phones to contact the police once they saw the girls openly drinking in public.
Lucy and her friend quickly realised that their carefree Euro-inspired evening wouldn’t last. Within minutes, a security guard appeared, politely but firmly reminding them that drinking in public spaces was against the law.
“We didn’t even get through the first glass before we had to pack it up,” Lucy sighed.
“It’s just so different here. In Europe, everyone’s so laid-back about it”
Despite the setback, Lucy remains hopeful. “Maybe the Olympics will solve this” she said.
