Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 05/02) - Premier Stephen Kakfwi will not drink the Yukon's most famous beverage while attending the 2002 Western Premier's Conference.

Yukon premier Pat Duncan had hoped western Canadian premiers and two U.S. governors would join her for a round of Sourtoe cocktails -- containing real human toes -- while in Dawson City, June 4-6, but at least two premiers, including Kakfwi, seem uninterested.

"We're not drinking," said press officer Drew Williams. The premier, says Williams, does not drink alcohol but would be willing to take up another dare if one was offered.

Dick Van Nostrand, however, owner of the Downtown Hotel and Sourdough Saloon, where the beverage is served, said the premiers can drink the toe cocktail with water if they so chose.

The popularity of the drink has taken on international proportions ever since Yukon resident Dick Stevenson came up with the idea after discovering a petrified, frozen toe in a cabin he purchased in 1973. A pickled toe is placed in a cocktail glass with spirits. In order to become one of several thousand members belonging to the "Sourtoe Club," one's lips must actually touch the toe while drinking.

The original toe has long since been lost, but thanks to a recent nationwide campaign searching for toe donors, Van Nostrand said he has plenty of new ones to go around.

"We've had several people donate them," said Van Nostrand.

Besides imbibing Sourtoe cocktails, the premiers will be discussing the Kyoto Protocol agreement, U.S.-Canada trade issues, aboriginal health, and transportation infrastructure.