Agreed. I'm Australian. Upon visiting America I was amused by folk griping about $4 pints.

No one in the US has a right to complain about their beer prices: http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2012/09/daily-c...

(Since I can't edit that post anymore, what I linked to was a bar graph showing how many minutes of work it takes to earn the sum needed to purchase 500ml of beer in various countries, based on 2011 retail prices and national median wage.)

No, in Australia. Just figured many interested readers would think in USD and that it was a reasonably close comparison for Australians too.

Beer in America is indeed hilariously cheap so you're right - context is very different.

Probably my biggest moment of beer-related culture shock in the US was seeing a liquor section in a pharmacy.

I pretty much drink only craft beer. When I was in NYC recently, I made sure to check out some bars with craft beer.

After tip, it wasn't really cheaper than my usual Sydney haunts. Is this a function of location and drink choice?

Yes. Alcohol in America is shockingly cheap.

I was just in Alaska for the weekend, and we bought two 24 packs for the price of one back in Canada (and Canada is a little cheaper than Oz). Hard liquor is less than 1/2 price.

In a bar, beers were $2 that we pay $5-$7 for in Canada.