SYDNEY (Reuters) - An Australian man convicted of his seventh drink-driving charge was spending about A$1,000 ($972) a week on beer -- enough to buy more than 2,500 small bottles a month, a newspaper said Tuesday.

The heartbroken construction worker began drowning his sorrows after breaking up with his partner five years ago, the Northern Territory News said, quoting his defense lawyer as telling a court in Australia's remote, tropical north.

The magistrate declined to jail the father of four, Michael Leary, noting he had quit drinking since his latest arrest, but he banned Leary from buying or even holding a beer for 12 months.

The magistrate also poked fun at Leary's favorite beer, Melbourne Bitter, in a part of the country where drinkers can be as loyal to beer brands as they are to football teams.

''(That is) poor judgment on two counts there -- drinking that much and drinking Melbourne Bitter,'' magistrate Vince Luppino was quoted as saying.

(Editing by David Fox)

A thousand bucks?
I guess Australian bartenders don't believe in buybacks.

;)

<insert pictures of Norm Peterson and Homer Simpson here>

Is that the same guy who has a coffin made to look like a Budweiser can? :lol:

AA meeting anyone?

Now you have someone to compete with TJL!!

Man, i would hate to see his liver.

Now you have someone to compete with TJL!!

No way.

If this poor sap is sending a grand a week drinking, then he is an idiot.

It's all about patronage.

I am a drinker, a tippler, a man of the booze, and elbow bender, etc..


But I have learned one thiing in my 20 or so years as a bar patron...

If you are a regular in good standing, you NEVER pay full price for drinks.

Why? Because you pay your dues at a bar.

You become friends with the bartenders and the barstaff.

My life is like a real life version of Cheers.

You make friends with a bartender, then you have a friend for life.. You tip well, they will remember it.
You come back all the time, and they are your friend forever. They know your name and you are always welcome at thier place.

Most of my friends are people I have hung out with at a bar.

If you have seen my website, I build signs and furniture and sculptures for the bars i frequent. I want to do them favors, because I want to add something to a place i frequent. It's my bar too.

It's patronage. It's respect for your place. It's for the love of the bar and the people in it.

I spend a lot of time sitting at a bar. Yes, I am sure some of you think I have a problem.

That may be so, and that is something I have to deal with down the line..

But I sat at Conker Hill all night sucking down Heinekens watching the All Star game and my bill was 20 bucks.

They should have charged me three times that amount, but they didn't.

Why?

It was out of respect.

;)

he must have worn a trench from his chair to the bathroom, by now! :lol:

the guy must have some gut.

Man, i would hate to see his liver.
:rofl: Seriously, good grief!!

<insert pictures of Norm Peterson and Homer Simpson here>
Not to mention Otis Campbell.

I would also hate to see his Liver

I thought this was gonna be a story about a redneck from Tennessee. :lol:

Man, I'm surprised he hasn't croaked yet from killing his liver with all that alcohol. :eek: