A 16-year-old Victorian boy tragically died after drinking excessive amounts of alcohol during a family Christmas lunch in Echuca, leading to his death from acute alcohol intoxication. The teen, whose identity cannot be disclosed for legal reasons, consumed more than a dozen alcoholic drinks, including 10 Vodka Cruisers and several cans of UDL, which had been provided to him for the summer holidays.
The Coroners Court of Victoria was informed that the boy had been allowed to have small sips of alcohol since the age of 15. However, his drinking on Christmas Day took a dangerous turn. Despite his mother’s warning not to take so many drinks, she relented after he insisted, not wanting to cause tension during the holiday gathering.
According to witnesses, the boy’s behavior quickly raised concerns. Within an hour of arriving at his aunt’s home, his sister noticed he appeared dazed and may have already vomited. His cousin reported that the teen consumed about seven pre-mixed alcoholic beverages before lunch.
After the meal, the teen went on to drink more. He vomited near the backyard chicken coop, claiming it was a “tactical vomit” to allow for further drinking later. Throughout the evening, relatives saw him engaging in reckless drinking, including “shotgunning” alcohol and sneaking drinks from unattended coolers.
Despite the growing signs of intoxication, the adults at the party, including his parents, also consumed alcohol and made no effort to intervene. Around 11 pm, the boy’s parents left the gathering, and the teenager continued drinking with other younger family members.
Between midnight and 1 am, the teen was seen staggering in the backyard before collapsing onto the grass and vomiting once again. He refused water when offered and was moved to an outdoor couch, where he was placed on his side to prevent choking in his sleep.
The following morning, relatives checked on the boy around 6:30 am and found him snoring while sleeping on his side. However, by 8:30 am, his uncle discovered the teen unresponsive, with foam and vomit coming from his mouth. After attempting CPR, the uncle called for an ambulance. The teen was rushed to the hospital, but by December 28, a CT scan confirmed that he was brain dead.
Coroner Catherine Fitzgerald stated that the boy’s death serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of alcohol consumption by minors. In her findings, Fitzgerald emphasized that the teenager’s death could have been prevented had medical assistance been sought sooner when he became unconscious.
She criticized the adults present for failing to intervene and take proper action, noting that they wrongly assessed the teen as simply being “hungover” the next morning. “The decision to leave him drunk and unsupervised on a couch to ‘sleep it off’ led to his deterioration and eventual death,” Fitzgerald said.
Chris Christoforou, CEO of the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association, echoed the coroner’s concerns, stating that alcohol-related harms are often minimized during festive periods. He called for stricter regulation of alcohol use in the home, adherence to the legal drinking age, and responsible alcohol consumption practices. Christoforou pointed out a 60% rise in fatal alcohol overdoses over the past decade, underscoring the critical need for adult supervision when young people consume alcohol.
This tragic incident highlights the vital importance of responsible drinking and proactive adult supervision to prevent further fatalities among minors.
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