Free beer lubricates ballot

University of Otago student Jared Smith (28) enjoys a beer at the Otago University Students'...
University of Otago student Jared Smith (28) enjoys a beer at the Otago University Students' Association's Election Drive Food Festival yesterday. Photo by Gregor Richardson

Mixing alcohol and politics does not always end well; just think of the late National Party leader Robert Muldoon, who famously called an early election after having a few too many.

But for a bunch of University of Otago students they made the perfect mix as early voters were invited to sample free boutique brews at the Otago University Students' Association's Election Drive Food Festival yesterday.

Otago University student Jared Smith, who voted earlier in the week, enjoyed a beer at the event but said people should not need to be enticed to vote with beer.

''You shouldn't need an incentive other than it's your right.''

But it was ''pretty sweet'' OUSA was working so hard to get students out voting, he said.

He was unsure if the turnout would be better than at the last election.

''All I can say is I really hope [it is].''

The event, part of OUSA's push to get students voting, was also the launch of its Dunedin Craft Beer Festival - hence the free beer.

vaughan.elder@odt.co.nz

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