You are obviously consuming at the wrong watering holes my friend. I have never paid that much for a beer and never will. also dont drink pints, drink a schooner, sure its a bit smaller but atleast it doesn't get warm.
Retired servicemans League. its a club where the beer is cheap and the pokies are flashing. the food is cheap and roasted and tasty. great place to go before going out. gin n juice is $3.70. the best part is the members badge draw or karaoke when you get $20 whether or not you suck.
If your place of residence is with 5km of the club you must become a member to enter, when you are a member you get the beer for a bit cheeper, a gift on your birthday and another cool I.D. card to keep in your wallet. .checkout somewhere like this http://www.chatswoodrsl.com.au/
there's always cheap bear, ALWAYS, infact last saturday i spent $7.50 and that was on someone else, and i came home SMASHED.. free drinks.. toss the boss / rock paper scizzors with the bar tender!