Drunkenness in Northeast Asia is not frowned upon to the degree that it is in the West, SE Asia or (obviously) the Middle East. Heavy drinking not only accepted, it is also often ‘expected.’ Business entertainment in South Korea, Japan and China usually will involve drinking sessions. The most unusual thing about this report from The White Peril is not that members of Japan’s Diet had drinks during the parliamentary recess… no, the unusual thing is that it was mentioned in the house:

That Tokyo stress gets to everyone, though, including LDP members of the Diet:
The session [of the House of Representatives on Friday] began its recess at 5 p.m. and reopened just before 9 p.m. Tomoko Abe (Social Democratic Party), who had stood up to argue against voting [to extend the Diet session], looked out over the red faces of several members and spoke. "We should all get out of here right now," she said, raising her voice. "If this is going to be the ‘Pickled Diet,’ there’s no need to extend the session."…
DPJ leader Katsuya Okada censured the Prime Minister:
"Prime Minister Koizumi and former Prime Minister Yoshio Mori were both casting votes red-faced. You’d think they’d understand how to comport themselves during these sorts of proceedings."

Via Dean’s World, who also explains ‘red faced’ and starts a debate about political correctness and social taboos.