Australian TV host goes on wild rant about Ashleigh Barty drinking beer after Australian Open victory

Former TV star James Mathison has gone on a bizarre rant about Ashleigh Barty celebrating her Australian Open victory by having a beer.

Barty defeated Danielle Collins to become the first female Aussie to win an Australian Open singles title in 44 years. So to celebrate the historic moment, Barty cracked open a cold one while conducting her post-match interviews.

The World No.1 had vowed to abstain from alcohol during the tournament, therefore the taste of victory would have been even sweeter. However, Mathison couldn't help but use the opportunity to have a dig at the tennis champion online.

"Our glorification and glamorisation of alcohol in this country is normalised to the point where we can't even celebrate success without booze on live TV. It's bizarre," ex-Australian Idol host Mathison tweeted.

"Imagine if this was in Canada and the broadcaster hoisted a joint onto their new champion?"

Mathison's wild claims were met with some pretty heavy backlash on social media. But rather than back off off, he then decided to double down on his viewpoint.

"I think I was trying to highlight how booze, which has enormous health, economic and family impacts get lionized yet all other 'drugs', many less harmful are maligned," added Mathison.

But he was far from done there, spending most of his Tuesday morning replying to anyone who dared question him.

"A lot of people learning that alcohol is indeed, a drug," Mathison tweeted. "This is not an attack on Ash who I adore and is an incredible role model. Chanel 9 foisted the beer on her. This is about our lionization of alcohol and how that seeps into everything.

"My question is more should a TV network be pushing her to have a drink after we've just watched her epic win with the kids? Some think otherwise, that's all.

"They brought booze along, that's their prerogative. I'm not having a good at the players, I'm having a go at a tv network and a culture that freaks out about drug use but actively encourages this."