It’s already well known that teenagers drink, whether they like the taste or not. Most use alcohol to get tipsy or drunk, which leads to binge drinking for many. But what happens when drinking games join the Internet, and even worse, go viral?
The drinking game, known as “Neknominate” is believed to have started in Australia and England. Unfortunately, it has reached many other continents in a short period of time. Participants of the lethal game record videos of themselves drinking unthinkably large amounts of alcohol within a matter of seconds, and then challenge a friend to outdrink them. If the person asked chooses not to participate, they are derided all over Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets.
Unfortunately, the challenge has already taken five lives, and all the victims are under the age of 30. Isaac Richardson, Jonny Byrne, Ross Cummings, Stephen Brooks, and Bradley Eames went in thinking they would be able to outdrink their peers, and ended up paying with their lives. Eames, only 20 years old, drank two pints of gin mixed with teabags and immediately after, complained of a sore stomach. Four days later, he was found dead at his home in Nottingham.
Richardson, also 20, drank a mixture of lager, whiskey, vodka and wine, which caused him to collapse hours after and die. Byrne, 19 years old, died after drinking a mixture of three different kinds spirits and then jumping into the River Barrow in Carlow. His older brother tried saving him, but was forced to watch him drown as the current pulled him away too quickly. Cummings, 22, was found unconscious and later died in a hospital after downing a pint of beer on film. 29-year-old Stephen Brooks died in his sleep after trying to finish a whole pint of vodka.
Before all these deaths, participants and challengers were not aware of the consequences of their actions. But now, anyone who challenges someone to “Neknominate” could be charged manslaughter. Parents and politicians are also urging schools to become more involved with students and drinking. More than that, the game needs to stop spreading immediately.
Many believe that Facebook needs to remove as many videos of the drinking game as possible. Young adults also need to be aware of the risks they are taking and that it is okay to say no to such a deadly challenge. Is it worth dying to avoid criticism of people you think are your friends?