Introduction
The tactic of ‘boycotting’ individuals, businesses and organisations by ostracizing them, refusing to supply them, or to purchase their products, dates back millennia. Mainly associated today with lifestyle choices and large scale environmental, union and anti-discrimination campaigns, historically boycotts in Australia were often localized, community based campaigns focused on industrial disputes and the cost of living.
Traditionally many Australian boycotts targeted pubs and other alcohol based venues. Popularly known as “beer strikes” these involved drinkers refusing to patronize some or all of the hotels in a locality until their demands were met.
In this presentation Iain McIntyre discusses the grievances that gave life to early “beer strike” campaigns, who was involved in them, how they were typically carried out and their outcomes. It is based on a talk given at the 2022 Australian Society for the Study of Labour History conference.
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Topics: Collection:
- Boycotts and bans
- History - Australia
- Hotels
- Movements_Campaigns - Labour_Worker's rights
- Pubs
- Strikes and lockouts
- Unions