This is Business Daily on the BBC.

Have you ever heard of Kava?

Kava is actually, it's making a lot of money.

We're generating a lot of income to families,

but when you look at it, it's destroying families.

The affordability of recreational Kava, fresh Kava here,

is reaching its limit.

And in fact, there have been times when local dealers have got together

and basically used cartel-like behavior.

But now you have kava bars everywhere

because it was promoted as a marker for cultural identity

and also promoted by churches and by women groups as a very suitable

alternative to alcohol. That last voice is Dr. Vincent Leboe, a Frenchman who's lived in the tiny

Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu for decades. He's the world's leading expert in Carver.

That's Carver with a K,

a traditional drink that's used across the Pacific.

Historically, Carver was restricted to ceremonial use,

a gift bestowed by the village chief,

but it's now a daily habit for many.

I'm Vivian Nunes, and we're in Port Villa for today's edition of Business Daily,

here on the BBC World Service.

It's the capital of Vanuatu.

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