The Assistant Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Sakiusa Tubuna, has stated that the consumption of kava plays a crucial role in fatal road accidents. He acknowledged that while there is limited information regarding the correlation between excessive kava drinking and road incidents, some accidents have resulted in fatalities linked to high levels of kava intake.
During discussions on the 2019-2022 annual reports with a parliamentary standing committee, Mr. Tubuna emphasized that excessive kava consumption is a contributing factor to road accidents. He expressed concern over the insufficient awareness of kava’s impact on road safety, noting that while alcohol’s effects on driving are heavily documented, kava’s role remains underreported.
“There is much focus on alcohol and its effects on road accidents, but there is a lack of information regarding the dangers of excessive kava consumption,” he remarked, mentioning that he has observed incidents where fatalities occurred due to high kava consumption.
He pointed out that excessive kava drinking is particularly linked to accidents among long-distance drivers and called for increased awareness, especially within the iTaukei community.
Maritino Nemani, the executive chair of the Accident Compensation Commission Fiji (ACCF) and permanent secretary for Employment, echoed Mr. Tubuna’s sentiments and suggested that regulations should be revised to include kava consumption as a factor in road accidents. Mr. Nemani highlighted that in other countries, individuals can face penalties for excessive kava consumption while driving.
He stated, “We need to recognize that kava drinking, like alcohol, can lead to reckless driving and should be addressed in our regulations.”