Tony Abbott finished a beer in 10 seconds on Saturday night.

Tony Abbott finished a beer in 10 seconds on Saturday night.

The former prime minister is not the only one to use a drink to connect with voters.

Last year Coalition MP Andrew Laming turned up at a constituent's Australia Day party and skolled a beer upside down while doing a handstand. As a partygoer later posted online:"I seriously hate Liberal[sic],but ... he found a loophole to my heart!"

Even away from the tricky stunts,we feel reassured when we see politicians with a beer in their hands. It's what convinces us they're real people,right? Hence all the concern when Abbott ordered ashandy with (oh my god)light beer on the campaign trail in 2010.

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But now,Abbott has achieved the sort of publicity that you can't plan for or buy.

Bottoms up:Then prime minister Malcolm Fraser has a beer during the 1979 campaign.

Bottoms up:Then prime minister Malcolm Fraser has a beer during the 1979 campaign.Credit:Rick Stevens

The Double Bay pub went totally wild,the PM himself was reported to be"proud as punch"and the feat was immediately exclaimed upon online. Even the BBC reported it.

Labor's Bill Shorten also offered up praise – of a sort.

Julia Gillard sips a Tooheys Old during the 2010 campaign.

Julia Gillard sips a Tooheys Old during the 2010 campaign.Credit:Andrew Meares

"I'm just pleased that Tony Abbott's learning to drink beer without adding lemonade,"he said,struggling to keep a straight face.

And yet there's something about the skol that doesn't sit quite right. It's not just that the Prime Minister is supposed to be a vocal advocate against binge drinking.

Bob Hawke,pictured with Gough Whitlam,is a legendary beer drinker.

Bob Hawke,pictured with Gough Whitlam,is a legendary beer drinker.Credit:Rick Stevens

We feel reassured when we see politicians with a beer in their hands. It's what convinces us they're real people,right?

Or that our culture has (supposedly) moved on from Hawkie's glory days,when being able to drink beer very quickly made you really awesome.

Perhaps it is that it was an unmistakably and assertively macho act – amid a chanting group of hyped-up dudes. And that it came from a Prime Minister who has been trying for the last 18 months to convince us that he is also the Minister for Women.

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