50 years since the final swill

It's 50 years since these words were heard right across New Zealand: "Six o'clock, time, gentlemen please."

Back on this day in 1967, three cheers and a rowdy rendition of Auld Lang Syne marked the end to the infamous six o'clock swill and the introduction of 10 o'clock closing.

The 6pm drinking deadline was introduced nearly 100 years ago, in December 1917, during the First World War to ensure a sober workforce, but the measure stayed in force for another 50 years.

By 1967, New Zealanders decided it was out of date to be slugging back jugs of beer in the hour between knocking off work and going home.

John McHugh owns a bar in Winton, north of Invercargill. He remembers the "swill" and how quickly workers had to guzzle drinks.

"You'd get to the hotel about 5.15, and you'd have to be out of there by 6.15. So it was a swill where you'd drink a couple of two-litre jugs and you were outta there and away home."

He said that as a teenager he not only had to think of ways to get around the early closing time but also the older drinking age of 21.

"Police had their areas, had their own territory. And of course us fellas, as young fellas - as I said, 18-year-olds - you'd go over the territory of your local policeman who knew you which may only be 10km or so.

"And you'd go to a neighbouring hotel area so you didn't risk being known by the next policeman and that's how a lot of the younger people enjoyed it."

Mr McHugh was sure some things had changed for the better.

"One of the things that happened for a start after the six o'clock swill, it was the norm to hop in the car and go for a drive.

"There is a lot more responsibility now as far as the drinkers are concerned when they go out at night time, whether it be taxis, coaches, or whatever the case is."

Now, 50 years on, bars and pubs can be open from 8am until 4am unless local councils decide differently.