Prime Minister Takaichi ``doesn't drink at all'' The government denies the report when he was absent from the G7 video conference

At a press conference on the 9th, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara completely denied the report that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who was absent from last month's Group of Seven (G7) summit video conference, had been drinking at a dinner with Liberal Democratic Party leaders held just prior to the meeting, saying it was ``based on assumptions and conjecture.'' ``I have not been drinking at all in order to prepare for the possibility that I may need to attend in person, such as adding to the agenda.Let me make this point clear.''

Reason for Prime Minister Takaichi's absence from G7 "drinking party"? Government's explanation is vague, opposition party pursues

The video conference was held on the night of October 2nd, and the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs appeared on his behalf. A few hours earlier, the prime minister had dined with Vice President Taro Aso and other senior Liberal Democratic Party officials at the prime minister's official residence. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yusuke Nakanishi, who was also present, admitted in the Diet that alcoholic beverages had been served, and another attendee revealed in an interview that ``the prime minister had also consumed alcohol.''

At the press conference, Kihara once again explained about the prime minister's absence from the meeting, saying, ``We considered attending, but we took into consideration various factors, including (the date and time) being decided too last minute and administrative preparations, including the necessary equipment and vendors, not being made in time.''