Trigger warning: This story may be distressing to some.
A 16-year-old boy has drunk himself to death after consuming too many alcoholic drinks during a Christmas lunch. The teen consumed at least 10 Vodka Cruisers and a handful of UDL cans throughout the day, with suspicions that his alcohol drink tally was actually much higher.
The teen began drinking before lunch on Christmas day before passing out on the grass around midnight. The teen was found dead on the morning of 26 December.
Teen seen ”vomiting within an hour” of arriving
The teen, who cannot be named for legal reasons, brought the alcohol to the Christmas gathering at his aunty’s house. He was given the drinks to consume over the summer holidays.
The teen, who lived in Echuca with his parents, was allowed to drink sips of alcohol from the age of 15, the Victorian Coroners Court was told, as reported by 7News. The legal drinking age in Australia is 18.
The court has heard his mother suggested he not take so many drinks, but he insisted, and she didn’t want to get into an argument with him on Christmas morning.
His sister noticed he was “a bit dazed and maybe already had a vomit” within an hour of arriving, she told a coroner.
One family member believed he consumed about seven Cruisers before lunch had begun. After lunch, the teen threw up again in the backyard. It is alleged it was a “tactical vomit” to set himself up for more drinking later.
Shotgunning alcohol
As the day unfolded, the family watched as the teen consumed several drinks with relatives and family members also drinking. The teen’s parents were both intoxicated and were driven home around 11 pm but the teen stayed on. It is alleged he was seen “shotgunning” alcohol and sneaking drinks from other eskies.
The teen continued to binge drink until around midnight or 1 am where he was seen staggering in the backyard before dropping to the grass and vomiting again. Relatives suggested he drink water, which he refused and he was moved to an outdoor couch. Family members then rolled the teen onto his side in case he vomited again.
At 6:30 am two relatives found the boy sleeping on his side, snoring. The family assumed he was hungover and simply sleeping it off.
At 8:30 am his uncle checked on him again. He was grey with foam and vomit coming from his mouth. The teen’s aunt called an ambulance while his uncle performed CPR. Paramedics took him to hospital where it was confirmed he had passed.
His death is being ruled as “acute alcohol intoxication”.
The dangers of excessive alcohol consumption
This tragic story poses a lot of questions and concerns around alcohol consumption for minors. While many parents agree that it’s okay to let minors have a sip or drink, most would agree that allowing a child to consume several beverages is dangerous and irresponsible.
Coroner Catherine Fitzgerald said the 16-year-old’s death from acute alcohol intoxication might have been prevented had he received medical care as soon as he became unconscious.
“He would have received medical intervention in the form of airway and oxygen support which would have prevented his deterioration and subsequent death,”
A significant amount of alcohol
It is unknown just how many drinks the teen consumed throughout the day, but Fitzgerald noted the amount of alcohol consumed was “a significant amount for an adult let alone a minor”.
Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association chief executive Chris Christoforou has also commented, reminding parents about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption. He said alcohol-related fatalities are rare in people aged under 18, but there has been a 60 per cent rise in fatal alcohol overdoses in the past decade.
Should you let your teen drink alcohol?
Others argue that teens should not be given alcohol at all, especially from their parents or adult relatives.
There’s no right or wrong here. It comes down to what you feel is right. However, as Mr Christoforou explains, “the coroner’s findings offer a stark reminder that regulating alcohol in the home, observing the legal drinking age and practising responsible alcohol consumption is very important.”
