Too many courses

A British MP, Jim Dobbin, was having a fine time on his recent visit to Poland as he knew one or two people there who were involved with the pro-life movement as he was. He was having the perfect day in Słupsk as part of a U.K. delegation on a political visit arranged by Council of Europe. 

The stalwart liberal politician was at a banquet and invited to drink a shot of spirit with every course.

The practice - said to be a Polish tradition - caused the 73-year-old to be five times over the legal drink-drive limit. After the lavish meal, Mr Dobbin - a former microbiologist who had served an an MP since 1997 -  complained of feeling ill.

He went to bed after being told by colleagues to 'sleep it off'. But, when his wife was unable to wake her unconscious husband, he was taken to the hospital were he died an hour later. 

The Council of Europe trip had been to mark the town of Słupsk being awarded the council's 2014 Europe Prize for 'promoting the European ideal'.