‘I went cross-eyed’: Australia’s former deputy PM taken to hospital after drinking entire bowl of kava

Michael McCormack paid a high price for downing, not sipping, the sakau during a Pacific tour, later stating: ‘I was trying to be respectful’

Former Australian deputy prime minister Michael McCormack has learned the hard way that being polite can be hazardous to your health.

The Nationals MP suffered the consequences of drinking an entire shell of sakau – a traditional Micronesia kava – in one hit, thinking it was similar to South Pacific kava.