Czech President Denies Being Drunk During Speech, But Footage Suggests Otherwise

[Initech]

Last edited Wed May 15, 2013, 07:31 PM - Edit history (1)

PRAGUE (AP) — Was he or wasn't he? The video footage shows the new Czech president clearly worse for wear, propping himself up against a wall at a public event, struggling to negotiate a step and being aided by a cardinal.

Milos Zeman makes no secret of his drinking. But on this occasion — a rare and highly-ceremonial public display of the Czech crown jewels last week — his office insisted he simply had a virus and subsequently needed a day or two of rest.

Since then, the video has prompted a storm of social media gags. Czechs — by far the biggest beer drinkers in the world per capita — have been posting pictures of themselves in bars getting drunk with slogans like, 'Here I am getting a virus,' or 'Heading out for a virus.'

Zeman, 68, a chain smoker and lover of fatty foods, often extols the virtues of booze. On one occasion, he praised Winston Churchill for his love of whisky and pointed out that Adolf Hitler was a teetotaler and vegetarian — "and you know how he ended up."

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/czech-president-stumbles-office-blames-virus

[rrneck]

1. Three sheets to the wind. nt

[MADem]

2. Yeah, that Johnny Walker virus is a killah! nt