The opening of Australia’s first kava lounge at the RUC Turner Bowls Club on Sunday “marked a milestone of the positive things to come for the kava industry”, says Faonetapu Takiari, who has advocated for years for the traditional Pacific beverage to be widely available here.

Islanders have drunk kava – a psychoactive, non-alcoholic substance prepared from the root of the Piper methysticum, mixed with cold water – for 3,000 years.

Medical evidence suggests it is healthy, relieves stress, and encourages communication, but kava has been restricted in Australia since 2007.

• Read more: Kava: “The Polynesian cup of tea”

Commercial imports were forbidden, and passengers could only bring 2kg in their luggage for personal use. In the ACT, it was listed as a ‘prescription only medicine’, with an exemption for cultural use at the Multicultural Festival since 2012.

Two years ago, however, the Federal Government launched a kava pilot program, and a National Kava Forum held in Canberra last year recommended trialling the establishment of a kava lounge in the ACT.

Following Sunday’s launch, the kava lounge will soon have a permanent home within ClubsACT, Mr Takiari said.

“The launch of Canberra’s first permanent kava lounge is not only notable, but inevitable,” Mr Takiari said. “It will provide a relaxed social environment for members of our community.”

Senator Zed Seselja, Minister for International Development and the Pacific, a guest of honour at the launch, said the kava lounge was “very exciting, particularly for our Pacific community.

“They have really been disconnected in the last couple of years from their homelands, and to be able to have that cultural connection through kava is very, very valuable.”

He hoped the kava lounge would become “a real fixture in the Inner North” and out into the suburbs. “Maybe we’ll see more kava bars opening up around the place.”

The Federal Government will monitor the trial and work with importers to make sure the trade can continue, Senator Seselja said.

President of Fair Canberra, Nic Manikis, and Fijian High Commissioner, H.E. Luke Daunivalu, also attended Sunday’s event. Proceeds went to the Tonga tsunami relief effort.

Mr Takiari will serve kava in Petrie Place on Good Friday afternoon, joining Fair Canberra as it feeds homeless people.

“We encourage everyone to take part, come along, and enjoy themselves,” Mr Takiari said. “All are welcome.”