Pub giving out free beers drunk dry as heatwave records broken

A pub offering free beer on tap to its patrons when the mercury reaches 45 degrees has been “drunk dry”.

Crowds flocked to the Red Lion Hotel in the Adelaide suburb of Elizabeth North to quench their thirst as the city sweltered through its hottest day in 130 years of records.

“We weren’t expecting to run out … didn’t expect to be that hot for that long,” manager Stephen Firth told Yahoo7.

Mr Firth estimates the establishment was at capacity for most of the day and the taps were flowing on the house for between two and two and a half hours.

“I would say we went through probably about 15 kegs,” he explained.

Mr Firth explains that the “price is dictated according to the outside weather”, with a beer-o-metre concept introduced in March last year.

When the temperature hits 38C the price is $4. If it goes above 40 degrees the price drops to $3, above 42 it’s $1 and above 45 it’s on the house.

“We thought it was an interesting concept, there was a place in Sydney doing it. No one was doing it in Adelaide,” he explained.

But the manager added the scheme had not really had a workout like this since it began.

“It hasn’t really got above 42 and if it has, not for long,” Mr Firth said.

Despite the high temperatures and flowing beer, everyone was said to be generally well-behaved.

“Only one real incident. Someone had to be sort of removed. Otherwise everyone was really friendly and happy,” the pub’s manager said.

But there have been mixed reactions about the concept online.

“They should be encouraging people to drink water, not alcohol. Ridiculous idea,” one person tweeted.

“No way would I be outside just to get a free beer. I’m in my own house at 24C having a nice cold beer,” another wrote on Facebook.

Others praised the generosity, with one person saying, “This is a lovely and brilliant gesture.”

Patrons at the pub are enjoying beer – and other drinks – at a cost on Thursday evening, with the next beer delivery to arrive on Friday.