His supposed 'brothers' are also at fault. They set up the peer pressure and since everyone has done it the pledge feels the hazing is safe. Those overseeing this should be responsible enough to stop the pledge from drinking to the level of alcohol poisoning. (Especially since once the pledge has consumed enough alcohol he is in no condition to know he has had enough). They set up the ritual, they set up the rules and THEY are equally responsible. Even a bartender knows when to cut someone off and if he doesn't he could be held responsible.
Yeah, I lean more your way. Probably many of these kids, being the naive fools they are, think they are under the safe watch of their "brothers" and nothing bad will happen. Reputation runs both ways and you would think one of the older members would "supervise" the pledges to be sure things did not get out of hand.