Photograph by
Michael Fajardo
The “neknomination” drinking game that has rapidly risen to popularity across Facebook and YouTube over the last two months has now claimed two lives.
In the game, an individual is challenged to “down” a pint or other alcoholic drink on video within 24 hours, and then nominate one or more of their friends to do the same. It has found virality online with some people managing to perform the challenge in unusual locations and sometimes more dangerously with large amounts of spirits such as vodka or gin.
Yesterday, Jonny Byrne, 19, from County Carlow, died in the River Barrow after reportedly taking part in the challenge, with Dublin DJ, Ross Cummings dying in his sleep the night before.
Byrne’s father Joe made an emotional appeal to get people to think about the consequences of playing neknomination, saying:
“It has cost my son his life, the whole family is devastated and our lives will never be the same again. I hope this message is heeded, because for us, life is virtually over”
Ireland’s Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald, explained her concern about the danger the game poses to young people to Irish state broadcaster RTÉ, calling it a lethal combination or peer pressure and excessive alcohol consumption.