SHOEY

The 'shoey' – the act of drinking alcohol from a shoe – is one of Australia's most notorious party traditions. Arguably, it is equal parts legendary and disgusting to non-Aussie party-goers.

While the exact origins are murky, the act has roots in Australian motorsport and surf culture. Early versions of the shoey were spotted in the 2000s at bogan-heavy music festivals and V8 Supercar events, where mates would celebrate wins or milestones by downing a beer from their own, or someone else’s shoe.

It started gaining traction around 2015 when MotoGP rider Jack Miller did one on the podium after a win. Not long after, Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo turned the shoey into his signature celebration, performing it on international stages. This publicised the stunt and gave the sweaty shoe tradition a unique credibility – it wasn’t just a bogan stunt anymore, it became an Aussie export.

From there, the shoey became a marker of chaotic celebration across house parties, clubs, music festivals, corporate parties, and all the way to televised events, such as the UFC.

While it’s often played for laughs, it’s symbolic of an unfiltered expression of Australian larrikinism – irreverent, gross, and 100% in the moment.

Today, while not as popular as it once was before, the shoey sits somewhere between a rite of passage and a dead trend – pushing reluctant participants over the edge. Whether you see it as a proud Aussie tradition or just a terrible way to ruin a decent pair of kicks, the shoey has cemented itself as a cultural icon.

The Origins of the Shoey

Although Australians are most closely associated with the shoey, the idea of drinking from footwear isn’t entirely unique to Australia. In fact, the act of drinking from a shoe can be traced back to Europe in the early 20th century, when wealthy socialites in Germany were said to sip champagne from women’s slippers as a novelty. However, the Australian version is far less glamorous and far more unrefined – less about luxury, more about chaos.

Motorsport culture played a huge role in pushing the shoey into mainstream Aussie culture. At V8 Supercar events, it became a way for mates to egg each other on in moments of reckless celebration. Surf culture, with its heavy party scenes, also gave the shoey oxygen. By the 2000s, it was common enough that it became part of Australia’s broader bogan folklore.

The Rise to International Fame

Jack Miller’s MotoGP podium shoey in 2015 cracked open the door, but Daniel Ricciardo blew it wide open. Ricciardo’s repeated shoeys after podium finishes turned the once-niche Aussie party act into a global talking point. His charm and sense of humour made international audiences see the act not as barbaric, but as uniquely Australian. It became part of his identity on the Formula 1 stage, and in turn, part of Australia’s sporting image.

From there, the shoey started popping up everywhere. UFC fighters in Sydney and Melbourne were cheered on to do shoeys inside the octagon. Artists at festivals like Splendour in the Grass and Falls Festival would be handed shoes from the crowd to chug from mid-performance. Even corporate parties and sports presentations, usually far from bogan antics, began to feature reluctant shoeys – often pressured by a cheering crowd that refused to take “no” for an answer.

Symbolism and Criticism

For many, the shoey embodies the Australian stereotype: cheeky, unrefined, and ready to turn any moment into a laugh. It’s not about the beer or the shoe – it’s about the absurdity of the act and the way it brings people together. The shoey is communal, daring, and messy, but that’s part of its charm.

Critics, however, see it differently. Some dismiss it as unhygienic, embarrassing, or an outdated stunt that should have been left behind with the peak bogan festival era. Public health voices have even warned against it, highlighting the bacteria and sweat that shoes naturally collect. Still, that hasn’t stopped the tradition from living on.

The Shoey Today

Like many viral cultural moments, the shoey has had its peak and is now settling into history. It no longer dominates headlines the way it did in the mid-2010s, but it remains a go-to move when someone wants to show off their Australian-ness on a global stage.

Whether it’s a musician hyping up the crowd, a UFC fighter giving fans what they want, or a random bloke at a house party reluctantly pouring a can of beer into his shoe. The shoey survives because it captures something that feels raw, unapologetic, and uniquely Aussie.

It may never again hit the same heights it did during Ricciardo’s F1 glory days, but one thing is certain, the shoey isn’t going anywhere. It’s now part of Australian culture.