16 oz cans

I think that the concept of the 16 oz. beer can was somewhat genius. I mean, in the States, most beer comes in the standard 12 oz. can or bottle, and anything larger generally has a cheap/trashy connotation or image. However, here in Ireland these are the primary form of vehicle for holding the mass-consumed beers (Guinness, Harp, Stella Artois, Heineken, Amstel, Murphy's, etc, etc). Of course, there are plenty of imported bottles, and a few domestic bottles to choose from (Bulmer's Cider being by far the most common...it is enjoyed, however, in a glass, over ice), but the 500 ml (or 16 oz for those of us stuck in the world of non-metric measurements) clearly has the grip on the market.

And that is mostly why I like them. They make so much more sense when you are holding them. The can itself, being a few inches (or several centimeters) taller than the US cans, allows the drinker to hold their cold beverage of choice without inflicting direct body contact to the chilled contents. And given the fact that most of the time, you are drinking these away from the convenience of say, a pint glass at home, this is a handy feature.

Also, I don't think there is really any law against drinking on the streets, and that definitely makes the walk home from our favorite Off-License (aka Liquor Store) far more pleasurable.