Is a schooner 400ml?

A schooner is a type of drinking glass that is commonly used in pubs and bars, particularly in Australia. The exact size of a schooner can vary, but it is generally larger than a pint glass and smaller than a pitcher. There has been some debate over whether a standard schooner is exactly 400ml or whether this is just a rough guide. In this article, we’ll examine the evidence and try to determine if a schooner really is 400ml.

Table of Contents

What is a Schooner?

A schooner is a tall, straight-sided beer glass that originated in Australia. It was designed to allow easy drinking of larger volumes of beer. The key features of a schooner glass are:

Tall and straight-sided rather than curved like a pint glass.

Typically holds 375-425ml.
Wide rim and wide body to allow a large head.
Made from glass for clarity and to show off beer colour.

Schooners gained popularity in the early 20th century and became the standard beer glass in many Australian pubs by the 1950s. The exact origins are unclear but the name may derive from a type of fast sailing ship called a schooner, suggesting speed and ease of drinking.

While schooners originated in Australia, they are now also popular in New Zealand, China, Canada and some parts of the US. The main reason for the popularity of schooners is they allow easy drinking of a larger single serve volume of beer than a pint glass.

Typical Schooner Sizes

While there is no definitive standard size for a schooner, they typically hold between 375ml and 425ml of beer. The most common sizes are:

425ml – The largest standard size found in many Australian pubs.
400ml – A rounded metric size that is commonly cited.
395ml – The most common size in New Zealand.

375ml – The smallest version, sometimes called a “small schooner”.

The exact size served can vary between regions, venues, beer styles and personal preference. Larger versions like the 425ml and 400ml are more common for lighter lagers. Smaller schooners around 375ml may be preferred for heavier ales and stouts.

Some key factors accounting for the range are:

Metric Versus Imperial – Australia changed to metric while the UK imperial system persisted in some places.
Different State Laws – Regulations on standard drink sizes vary between states in Australia.
Pouring Style – Agressive pouring creates more head which reduces the volume.

Glass Design – Curved glasses may hold less than straight ones.

So while there are typical size ranges, there is no definitive standardized volume for a schooner across Australia and New Zealand. The most commonly cited size is 400ml. But the exact served size can still vary.

Is 400ml the Official Standard?

Many pubs, bars and beer drinkers refer to 400ml as the standard “ideal” schooner size. But is this truly universal or official? Let’s examine some of the evidence:

Legislation – No current state or federal laws in Australia define a schooner as exactly 400ml. The NSW 400ml standard was repealed in 1992.
CAANZ – The beer industry group recommends 350-450ml for a schooner, not an exact 400ml.
ABAC – The alcohol industry guideline cites 250-750ml as a broad schooner range.

Venues – Many bars advertise “425ml schooners” rather than 400ml.
Brewers – Beer packaging may be 375ml or 440ml rather than 400ml.

So while 400ml is commonly cited and expected, there appears to be no current legal or industry standard defining a schooner as exclusively 400ml across Australia. Rather, it seems the ideal 400ml is more of an informal convention or common practice among venues.

Some key perspectives include:

Consumers – Many beer drinkers insist 400ml is the only “true” schooner size.
Hospitality – Staff and management commonly cite 400ml as standard.

Marketing – Round numbers are used e.g. “Our schooners are 400ml!”
Practically – 400ml lines up well with common beer bottle sizes.

So in practice you’ll seldom see a 370ml or 425ml schooner advertised, even if the actual served size varies. 400ml persists as an accepted standard.

Schooner Sizes Around Australia

To further examine whether 400ml is truly standard, we can look at common schooner sizes poured at bars and pubs around Australia:

State	Typical Size
Queensland	425ml
New South Wales	425ml
Victoria	Mostly 425ml
Tasmania	400ml
South Australia	395ml
Western Australia	425ml
Northern Territory	425ml

This shows that 425ml is the most common poured size, although 400ml remains prevalent in Tasmania and other scattered venues. South Australia is an outlier at 395ml. Victoria shows more diversity but leans towards 425ml.

So while 400ml has strong acceptance as the standard, when examining actual serving sizes 425ml appears more common overall in Australia.

Factors Affecting Schooner Sizes

Why is there such variety in schooner sizes across Australia? Here are some of the key factors:

State liquor licensing – Queensland, NSW and WA allow 425ml while Victoria and Tasmania mandate maximum 400ml.
Glass shape – Curved glasses may hold less than straight walled glasses.

Pouring style – Aggressive pours result in more head and lower liquid volume.
Drinking culture – Locals in some regions have come to expect 425ml as standard.
Metric conversion – The shift from imperial ounces to millilitres during the 1970s was gradual.

Marketing appeal – Venues prefer to advertise 400ml or 425ml rather than precise ml.

So schooner sizes and laws have evolved gradually over time leading to the current differences across Australia. While metrics dominate, the legacy of imperial system persists in some cases.

Schooner Sizes in Other Countries

While schooners originated and remain most popular in Australia, let’s examine some common sizes in other countries where schooners have taken off:

New Zealand – The most common size is 395ml by law.
China – Schooners vary wildly from 300ml to 500ml.
Canada – 341ml (12oz) is most common.

USA – Numerous sizes but 354ml and 473ml are typical.

This shows the lack of standardization even when the Aussie schooner has been adopted abroad. Local laws, culture, pouring and glass shape all affect sizes. The popularity of odd sizes like 395ml or 341ml reflects metric and imperial mixed influences.

So a conversion to true 400ml standard has not accompanied the spread of schooners to other countries. Local divergences remain commonplace.

Arguments For and Against 400ml Standard

Given all the variability, should Australia and the world adopt 400ml as the definitive schooner standard? Here are some key arguments for and against:

Arguments For 400ml Standard

Most commonly accepted “ideal” based on tradition.

Round number is appealing for marketing purposes.
Aligns with common 375-430ml beer bottle sizes.
Easier to calculate alcohol units for licensing purposes.

Would end confusion from variability between regions.

Arguments Against 400ml Standard

Would go against current legislation in some states like QLD and NSW.

Reduces choice for venues and consumers.
Enforced standard could see some glasses overflowing.
Improper washing can result in less than 400ml.

Hard to change existing culture and expectations.

So while adopting 400ml could provide some national consistency, counter-arguments remain around reducing consumer choice, ignoring current legislation and potentially making glasses overflow if the standard is not precisely matched.

Likelihood of Future 400ml Standard

Given the above analysis, what are the prospects of a future national 400ml schooner standard?

Low likelihood – No current major push from liquor licensing bodies.
Unlikely – States previously opposed proposals for a national standard.
Improbable – Venues accustomed to 425ml would resist imposed change.

Somewhat possible – Consumer and tourism groups may lobby for consistency.
Potential incentive – A standard could simplify licensing rules across state borders.

Based on the regulatory landscape and well established local drinking cultures, a universal 400ml schooner standard does not seem highly probable in the near future. While state-based differences create confusion for tourists, venues would likely resist top-down changes.

However, national licensing groups promoting uniform rules could potentially prompt re-examination of schooner regulations. This remains an outside chance to watch for.

Schooner Size Recommendations

Based on this analysis, here are some recommendations on schooner sizes for different stakeholders:

For consumers:

Expect 400-425ml in most Australian venues, ask for your preferred size.
Check menus for stated schooner sizes when visiting new venues.
Remember sizing varies between regions and venues.

For venues:

Comply with local liquor licensing regulations on maximum sizes.
Offer consumers choice between smaller and larger schooners.

Train staff on correct pouring volumes for each glass size.

For licensing bodies:

Consider benefits and costs before mandating a national 400ml standard.

Consult widely with consumers, venues and health groups.
Closely monitor success of any newly legislated standard if introduced.

Following these recommendations can help maximize satisfaction across all stakeholders when it comes to ideal schooner sizes.

Conclusion

So in summary, while 400ml is commonly accepted as an idealized standard schooner size, the evidence shows variation remains commonplace across Australia and globally. Typical sizes range from 375-425ml depending on region, venue, legislation and consumer expectations.

While arguments exist on both sides, a universal 400ml schooner standard seems unlikely in the short term. For now consumers and venues should allow for flexibility. But growing calls for simplicity and consistency mean 400ml as the standard definition for a schooner remains a possibility over the longer term.