Australian Slang For Alcohol (10 Examples!)

The Australians are big drinkers, and naturally, that leads to a good deal of slang terms arising to describe it all.

There are a great many general slang terms for alcohol as a whole, from the weakest beer to the strongest spirits.

There are also many more specific slang terms for certain kinds of alcohol. In other words, whatever it is that you need to put a name to, Australian slang will have something you can use.

Today, we’re going to break down some of these terms, see what they mean, where to use them and where they come from.

Let’s get started.

In This Article

Grog

Starting off with a common slang term used in Australia for just about any kind of alcohol, first we have “grog”.

You may well be familiar with this term in other contexts as it is not just the Australians that use this term for alcohol. It’s a catch-all term and can refer to any kind of alcohol, although it does more commonly refer to hard spirits.

It is among the most commonly used slang terms in Australia for alcohol.

“Let’s get down to the bar and get some grog in us,” for example.

The word itself is very old although not of a completely certain origin.

It originally referred to sailor’s rum which had been diluted from water, and this is recorded by 1749.

The story goes that it was the nickname of Edward Vernon, a British admiral who ordered his sailor’s rum to be diluted.

He wore a cloak of grogram, a kind of coarse material common at the time.

Given that this is the period in which Australia was discovered by the British, it’s no surprise the term took hold there

Booze

Next we have “booze,” a term you are no doubt familiar with already. It’s an extremely common catch-all term for alcohol in Australia, understood if not used by just about everyone.

This might more commonly be used to describe harder, stronger drinks, but it definitely does simply mean alcohol in general, whether it’s beer or whiskey. It’s not regionally specific so you’ll hear this one everywhere.

“I’ll go to the shop, do we need more booze?” for example.

The word itself is very old.

It was first recorded in the 1570s in its modern form, and most likely derives from the Middle English bous.

This meant “intoxicating drink,” which in turn derived most likely from the Middle Dutch buse which meant a drinking vessel.

It doubtless was brought to Australia by British sailors from the earliest times that it was discovered in the west.

Hard stuff

A more specific slang term for stronger alcohol like spirits in Australia is “hard stuff”.

This one refers to only strong drinks, and even then it generally is reserved for the strongest kinds of spirits.

Wine would not be considered “hard stuff”, and perhaps not even the weaker spirits like vodka.

Hard rum and whiskey might be, for some, the only things that qualify as “hard stuff”.

Some may consider this a more dated term but it is definitely still in use among the older generations.

“We’ve run out of beer, we’ll have to move on to the hard stuff,” for example.

This is a common expression in many English-speaking countries, but more common in Australia than many other places.

The term “hard” is used to describe strong spirits was in use by the end of the 19th Century, though we don’t know precisely when it came to have this meaning–it is likely far older than this.

Piss

Next we have “piss,” which can have a couple of different senses when referring to alcohol in Australia.

Some may only use this slang term to refer to beer, but it is definitely a more general slang term relating to alcohol.

It can refer, of course, simply to intoxication itself.

Australians might talk about being “on the piss,” when drunk, but it can also refer to the alcohol itself.

“We need to get the piss in for tonight,” for example.

The basic sense of urination goes a long way back.

The Middle English pissen, in use by the 14th Century, derived from the French pissier.

To mean alcohol in Australia, the term seems to have taken on this sense in the 19th Century though it could well have been earlier than this.

The two terms have been related in English for a long time, so it’s difficult to say with any certainty.

Turps

At one time, “turps” was an extremely common way to refer to alcohol in Australia.

Today, it’s mostly reserved to the older generations and the younger people do not tend to use it.

Nonetheless, it’s very much still in use as of now and refers to any kind of alcohol.

Again, though, it is more common to use this one to describe harder, stronger alcohol like spirits.

It’s more common in some regions than others.

“I need some good strong turps after that day,” for example.

The term derives from “turpentine,” a solvent with a variety of uses in construction and engineering.

Turpentine generally has a very high ethanol content, and ethanol is a form of alcohol.

Thus, high proof alcoholic drinks are like drinking turpentine.

It may have derived from the practice of home brewing very strong alcohol in rural Australia.

Goon

Next we have “goon,” another common slang term for alcohol in Australia.

This one typically refers to cheap, strong cask wine.

It’s mostly used by the under 60s in Australia today and is another one that probably arose out of the practice of home brewing.

Some, though, use this term more generally to refer to strong, methylated spirits, and you’ll see why in the origin.

“I’ve got some goon in the basement if you want a drink,” for example.

The term, it seems, is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning cheap alcohol.

This word was actually goom, and in the 1960s it seems to have evolved to become goon.

Probably of the language of the Aboriginals in what is now southeast Queensland, the original term was simply water.

Bundy

“Bundy” is another term that has taken on a broader meaning in some places, though it generally refers specifically to rum.

Many Australians think of “Bundy” simply as strong, dark spirits like spiced rum, whiskey or brandy.

It’s a very common term used throughout Australia today by both the young and the old.

“I could really go for a Bundy right now,” for example.

The term derives from the brand name Bundaberg, a specific brand of rum manufactured primarily in Queensland in a place called Bundaberg East.

As is often the case, what was originally simply a brand name has become a much broader slang term for alcohol on the whole.

The company was founded way back in 1885, and the slang term was in common usage by at least the 1950s.

Plonk

Next we have “plonk”, another common slang term used in Australia to refer to cheap wine.

Again, the word is reserved usually for low-quality wine that you can get cheaply, though typically not to homebrewed wine.

This term has been common throughout the British Commonwealth for a long time but is most commonly used in Australia today, and indeed this seems to be where the term originated.

“Well, it’s just plonk, but we do have some wine,” for example.

It’s believed the term was originally a reference to the French word blanc meaning “white,” as in white wine.

It was taken phonetically and changed around a bit to become a slang term on its own.

It’s more or less synonymous with “goon,” and often comes in a box.

This term has been in use since the 20th Century.

Frothies

Another very common slang term for alcohol, more specifically beer, in Australian slang is “frothies”.

This is one of the most common ways to refer to one of the most commonly consumed alcoholic drinks in Australia.

It’s understood by everyone even if they don’t use it, and could refer to quality draught ale, cheap beer from a can, or bottled beer.

“Shall we get the boys over and have some frothies tonight?” for example.

The term simply refers to the fact that beer forms froth at the top of the glass or whatever container it is housed in.

It’s hard to say how long this one has been in use, but it most likely started being used once cheap, mass-produced beer was widely available in cans and bottles.

Bevvie

Finally, we have “bevvie”. This is another very common slang term for alcohol used in a few English speaking countries, though primarily in Australia.

It is a catch-all and can refer to any kind of alcoholic drink in just about any situation.

It could be a quiet drink you have by yourself at home, a beer at the bar after work, or one of many drinks you have on a big night out.

“Time for some bevvies tonight,” for example.

The term is simply a shortening of the word “beverage,” and though this can mean any drink, this particular term definitely refers to alcoholic drinks exclusively.

It’s been in use for a long while though has primarily become popularized in the last few decades.

Whether you’re going out for a beer after work with a friend or getting ready for a long night on the grog,

Australian slang has got you covered.

Some of these terms are virtually universal in the English speaking world, but others are highly specific and quintessentially Australian.

From the simplest to the strangest, Australian slang always delivers and when it comes to alcohol this is no different.

More in Australian Slang

Founder - @PollyWebster

Polly Webster is the founder of Foreign Lingo and a seasoned traveler with a decade of exploration under her belt.

Over the past 10 years, she has journeyed to numerous countries around the globe, immersing herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and languages.

Drawing from her rich experiences, Polly now writes insightful articles about travel, languages, traditions, and cultures, sharing her unique perspectives and invaluable tips with her readers.

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