FORGET the whales - it's time to save the males, research shows. A national survey of 500 Australians has found the hard-drinking, straight-talking Aussie male is under threat.
The research, commissioned by Barons Brewing Co, suggests a rise in the number of champagne-drinking metrosexuals.
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The results show:
EIGHT out of 10 surveyed think men spend more on their appearance than 10 years ago.
75 PER CENT say men are more likely to bring champagne and a cheese plate to a barbecue rather than beer and a tray of raw meat.
60 PER CENT say men prefer to meet up at restaurants or cafes rather than pubs.
50 PER CENT say men are more likely to do yoga or pilates than play footy or cricket at the weekend.
Fathering and relationships also seems to be affecting the Aussie male's ability to find time for his mates. The survey found 56 per cent of respondents think men now spend more time with their partner's friends or the parents of his children's friends rather than his own mates.
Michael Bois, 27, who owns men's city clothing store Swarvie Saint, was taking wine - and quiche - to a barbecue yesterday.
"Real men eat quiche and I always take wine to a barbecue and a gift for the host - a bunch of flowers if it's a girl and a bottle of spirits if it's a guy," he said.
While his mates, sales representative Terry Nicolitsi, 28, and plumber Braden Keen, 25, were more likely to bring beer to a barbie than wine, the three still enjoyed traditional male-bonding rituals together, Mr Bois said.
Scott Garnett, Barons Brewing CEO, spends a lot of time in pubs and noticed Aussie men were losing their identity.
"If the trends continue there'll nothing but weak handshakes and pink frocks," he said.
"We're not advocating men become yobbos - far from it - but we're losing the ability to laugh at ourselves and this is a key part of who we are," he said.
Take from Adelaidenow.com.au
www.adelaidenow.com.au/nocookies?a=A.flavipes