Sunrise host Natalie Barr has confronted Barnaby Joyce over his decision to quit booze after he was found rolling around on the footpath after dark and speaking gibberish into his mobile phone.
Mr Joyce was filmed by bystanders in February lying on the street during an upside-down phone call in Canberra.
The bizarre footage showed the former Nationals leader lying on the footpath in Canberra late at night while mumbling “dead f**king c***” into his phone.
The former Nationals leader has since revealed the whole affair delivered a big reality check and he’s moved to drop the cigarettes and alcohol cold turkey.
“Barnaby, we remember the video in February, is it true you haven’t touched alcohol since then and you’ve lost a lot of weight? Tell us what’s happening?’’ Sunrise host Natalie Barr asked this morning.
“It is correct. My choice, nobody else’s. I thought that’s a disgrace, can’t do that again,’’ Mr Joyce said.
But he’s revealed there are downsides, including realising there are a lot of “boring” conversations at work functions.
“I literally woke up the next morning and said, “That’ll do,’’ he said.
“Given up the smokes, alcohol, life is boring, having to talk to people at functions. Do you know what they prattle on about?.”
The Sunrise host then asked what his chances were of maintaining a booze-free lifestyle if it was “too boring.”
“I haven’t had a drink. I’ve lost weight, I’m sharper. But that’s my choice. Nobody else’s choice. I’m not a wowser. If you want to have a drink, that is your choice,’’ he replied.
“I’ve made a choice. Whether it’s for life or for as long as it goes, I don’t know. Didn’t worry me, just woke up and stopped.”
Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek, who regularly appears on Sunrise with Mr Joyce to debate politics, praised Mr Joyce for making the change.
“Cutting out alcohol is great for your health, for your family. I think it’s something to be congratulated on. Good on you,’’ she said.
NSW Premier Chris Minns also kicks booze
Barnaby Joyce isn’t the only politician banning the booze with NSW Premier Chris Minns marking two years since giving up alcohol.
“You can get a phone call any time of the night or day from a police, fire brigade or prison commissioner,” he told the Daily Telegraph.
“You don’t want to be half cut.
“Giving up the grog was a massive change to my quality of life,” he says.
“I should have done it years earlier.”
The NSW Premier said he had his own wake up call that made him kick the beers.
“I didn’t do anything off the wall,” he says, “It was a fun night but I had a full day starting the next morning and I felt hungover and terrible. I probably lost count of how many drinks I’d had.
“I’d wake up not at my best. Not excited about the day.
“I thought I want to throw everything at this job and, without sounding corny, be the best version of myself. You only get one shot at life, so I made the call.
“Originally, I thought ‘I’ll ditch it for a month’. After three months I felt a million bucks and after six months I felt ‘I’ll never go back’.
“I don’t regret my drinking years. I’ve had some great times and a lot of fun but right now in my life I can’t do it and I won’t go back to it.”