New Czech President Milos Zeman is blaming his bizarre behavior at a recent public event on an "illness," but many suspect he was drunk at the time. A video of Czech President Zeman's drunken behavior has quickly circulated the web and gone viral. During a rare and highly-ceremonial public display of the Czech crown jewels last week, Zeman propped himself up against a wall before struggling to negotiate steps, aided by a cardinal. His office claims that the Czech president had a virus and simply needed a day or two of rest, prompting Czech social media users to post photos of themselves at the bar with captions like, "Heading out for a virus."

Zeman has made no secret of his penchant for booze, declaring in a 1996 election campaign that his campaign bus "drove on gas and Becherovka" (an herbal liquor), while also reportedly telling a Czech tabloid that he drank six glasses of wine and three shots on any given day. He's also praised Winston Churchill's love of whiskey and pointed out that Adolf Hitler was a teetotaler and vegetarian-"and you know how he ended up." However, Zeman denies having ever gotten drunk publicly and says he's so used to drinking that it doesn't have any ill effects.

His unsuccessful opponent in the most recent presidential election, nobleman Karel Schwarzenberg, accused Zeman during the campaign of having a drinking problem. "Milos Zeman was in my opinion one of the most intelligent prime ministers this country has ever had, and had he not drunk so much he'd have been a really good prime minister," said Schwarzenberg.

Last fall, the Czech Republic temporarily banned liquor sales after methanol-laced, black-market booze killed 19 people in the country. Beer and wine were still sold at bars during the two-month ban, which was lifted at the end of last year.