Hockey team’s beer supply cut

Press, 7 December 1981, Page 29

Hockey team’s beer supply cut

The New Zealand men's hockey team for the World Cup will be without its traditional New Zealand beer during the tour. A supply of New Zealand beer has been donated to the team by Lion Breweries, but unfortunately the cost of air freight to Bombay, where the tournament will be played, is prohibitive. The side arrives in Bombay on Christmas Eve after two weeks of preparation games in Singapore. Malaysia and Pakistan. It had hoped to celebrate Christmas Day and New Year, and remember families and friends at home, with a fewcans of New Zealand ale, but that now seems remote.

Mr Dave Coulter, the team manager, said the cost of freight to Bombay worked out at $1.50 a can.' As an alternative the team will have to be content with the local brew if it wants beer, or settle for fruit juice. The team will have a supply of powdered fruit juice. But before it can be used it will have to go through the tedious task of boiling water to use with it. “It would be enjoyable to sit around in the evenings after the games and have a couple of beers. But it looks like we will have to settle for fruit juice to do our celebrating, and for our fluid replacement." said Mr Coulter.