Sakiusa Tubuna, the Assistant Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, has highlighted the role of kava consumption as a major contributor to fatal road accidents. Although there is limited data linking excessive kava drinking to road incidents, Tubuna pointed out that some fatalities were connected to overindulgence in kava.
During his presentation on the 2019-2022 annual reports to the parliamentary standing committee, Tubuna raised concerns about the insufficient attention given to the effects of kava on road safety, in contrast to the extensive focus on alcohol. He noted that excessive kava consumption is notably linked to accidents, particularly among long-distance drivers.
“There is considerable emphasis on the impact of alcohol on road accidents, but there is a lack of information regarding the dangers of excessive kava drinking,” Tubuna stated, urging for more awareness, especially among the iTaukei community.
Supporting Tubuna’s remarks, Maritino Nemani, the executive chair of the Accident Compensation Commission Fiji and permanent secretary for Employment, advocated for updated regulations that take kava consumption into account as a risk factor for road safety. He emphasized that even in other countries, individuals face penalties for reckless driving due to excessive kava intake.
“We need to start recognizing that it’s not just alcohol causing these issues, but kava as well,” Nemani asserted.