Man Dies After Winning Vodka-Drinking Contest

http://www.reuters.com ^ | Wed November 19, 2003 09:36 AM ET | Reuters 2003

[luv2ndamend]

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A vodka-drinking competition in a southern Russian town ended in tragedy with the winner dead and several runners-up in intensive care. "The competition lasted 30, perhaps 40 minutes and the winner downed three half-liter bottles. He was taken home by taxi but died within 20 minutes," said Roman Popov, a prosecutor pursuing the case in the town of Volgodonsk.

"Five contestants ended up in intensive care. Those not in hospital turned up the next day, ostensibly for another drink."

Popov said the director of the shop organizing this month's contest had been charged with manslaughter. He had offered 10 liters of vodka to the competitor drinking the most in the shortest time.

Russians drink the equivalent of 15 liters of pure alcohol per head annually, one of the highest rates in the world. Some experts estimate one in seven Russians is an alcoholic.

© Reuters 2003. All Rights Reserved.

[Lazamataz]

What's God supposed to do, send an angel down to snatch the vodka bottle from his hand, slap him on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper, and holler, "Bad Russian!"?

Well, it's what happens with me all the time.

ALL the time.

Everywhere I go, there's the angel with the newspaper, smacking me relentlessly. It's why I bought the rifle -- and I figure, if I get on the water tower I'll be able to see and shoot the angel easier.

Damned angel.

[mhking]

What color flame does vodka burn with?

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[Maelstrom]

I'll wait for you at the top!

((See now this is easily recognizeable sarcasm...I hope ;-) ))

[Maelstrom]

Blue

[Calvin Locke]

I went through a period in which I could easily double that and more. (about 220lbs)

Got rid of the wife, her clymer father, her quack social worker friends, and about the only thing now is non alcoholic beer.

I think it was described as a "maladaptive response to stress".

[TheRightGuy]

According to the equation I posted, if he weighed 100 kilos, that translates to 58 liters of water weight. he drank 1.5 liters of vodka. 2.6% of this guy was vodka.

But I take exception with your equation. Water weight does not equal blood volume. Blood volume/weight is far far less than all water weight in body. I think lethal blood alcohol level is somewhere just shy of .50% upon which I based my SWAG of .48% for this Darwin Award-winner.

[Maelstrom]

The alcohol fumes are what burn.

But to make the pig burn they needed a wick and a heat retardant cover to hold the heat in.

[luv2ndamend]

?

[Zack Nguyen]

I don't understand how a supposedly good God can allow things like this to happen to people.

Is God supposed to take care of people who do incredibly dangerous and stupid things, and seem determined to kill themselves?

Or maybe you were being sarcastic and I just missed it.

[NormB]

I don't understand how a supposedly good God can allow things like this to happen to people.
I can't understand how supposedly intelligent people can't see the humor in this post. I think it was very funny!
For those who don't get it, they should down a gallon of vodka and then see if they find it amusing.
I would add, How can God let stupid things happen to bad people?

[Fighter@heart]

Maybe this Russian was just trying to emulate his "socialist hero" Ted Kennedy!! He was off to a great start, but then he took a taxi home instead of driving!!

[Calvin Locke]

That was the point. To debunk the "pickled" hypothesis.

I think the show determined human combustion was, say a cigarette acting as a wick on a body.

So, the person was obviously unable to react to the burning. Dead, unconscious, paralysis.

It's a curiosity because of the localized burning. The body, or a part, but only charring around the bed, the chair, the floor.

[Middle Man]

I think my friend will eventually experience what I like to call the "Dorian Gray Effect". He's in his early fifties; despite his monumental thirst he shows no outward signs of real damage from a consumption level that would have finished me off years earlier. I just know one day his whole system is just going to shut down all at once and he's going to age 20 years right before our eyes.

It's also a matter of genes in some people (think "Keith Richard") that they can keep up that level for years without it killing them.

[Ciexyz]

Re: Post 10: most impressive!

[1776USA]

Don't blame God ,,,He was not drinking with them...nor, was he invited(to my knowledge)...He did not sponser the event
and the cause was probably more human than Divine!

[humblegunner]

I don't understand how supposedly good people can disobey God's commandments...and then ask questions like yours.

There is a commandment against drinking vodka?

[theDentist]

"I win! I wi-" *thud*

[b4its2late]

SUICIDE BY VODKA!

[nuconvert]

OBVIOUSLY!

[nuconvert]

"58 liters of water weight"

Is that with or without ice?