Many people are curious as to why a video of an Australian MP sipping wine in his shoe has gone viral online. MP Kyle McGinn’s time in the parliament was coming to an end.
He said farewell in a distinctive manner known as “shoey,” a custom in which a person takes off their shoe, fills it with beer, and then drinks from it.
A WA State Labor MP has ended his valedictory speech with a shoey in parliament
Kyle McGinn said after pondering the idea he thought his Goldfields constituents would be "appreciative" of the theatrical send off: "I'm used to getting told off". #wanews #auspol @westaustralian pic.twitter.com/xw478DF3UY— Caitlyn Rintoul (@caitlynrintoul) May 21, 2025
The “shoey” is a custom that involves pouring drink, usually beer, into someone’s shoe—typically one they are wearing at the time—according to a 2019 New York Times article. The shoe is then given back to its owner to wear when the individual has finished drinking the beer from it.
Notably, Kyle McGinn is not the only one who adheres to this peculiar custom. He now joins a growing list of celebrities who have done the “shoey,” which includes singers like Machine Gun Kelly and Stormzy, actors Sir Patrick Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, Hugh Grant, and Gerard Butler, and Australian Formula One racer Daniel Ricciardo.
“I thought so long and hard about how to finish this speech, and my constituents in the Goldfields, I think, will be particularly appreciative—there’s only one way to do it,” McGinn stated before pouring his drink, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
We may as well end this now because I’m accustomed to being reprimanded, but I want to thank all of the members and residents in Western Australia for two outstanding terms. “Cheers,” he said.
Many members of the parliament found his performance amusing, while others don’t appear to be too happy about it.
After this, McGinn was invited to step in by Legislative Council President Alanna Clohesy.
“I assume his speech is over because the honorable member is well aware that he crossed a very fine line in disrespecting the dignity of the council,” she remarked.
