a vodka drinking competition in Russia - no way...
“Russia is traditionally an alcohol-hardened nation,” deputy prosecutor general Sergei Lubenets told a press conference in Volgodonsk, “but even by our standards, this competition was deeply irresponsible. So far there’s been one death, four others are fighting for their lives in the local hospital, and a dozen other contestants only survived because they were rushed to a clinic for an emergency stomach pump. Yet so far we’re at a complete loss to find any criminal charge that we can bring against the organisers.”
Lubenets was speaking after a vodka-drinking marathon contest in southern Russia had resulted in an epidemic of alcohol poisoning, and at least one fatality. “About fifty people took part in the event at a local food and drink shop. Each contestant was given a bucket of vodka, filled to the brim, and a half-litre glass, and told to drink an entire glassful each time a bell was sounded. By the fifth round, most of the participants had fallen over and were unconscious, but Alexander Nakonechny kept on refilling and draining his glass, and threw up his hands in celebration when he was declared the winner. The prize was ten bottles of vodka, but after taking a celebratory swig from the first bottle, he shouted out ‘I have shat myself’ and dropped dead on the spot.
“Over 40,000 Russians die each year from alcohol poisoning, and the last thing our society needs is competitions that encourage more of this ridiculous drinking. If we can find grounds to charge the organisers, then we’ll prosecute them, but let’s face it. If people are reckless enough to enter a contest than involves drinking themselves to death, it’s hard to blame anyone else for their stupidity.” (Baltic Times, 27/11/03. Spotter: Mike Edmeades)Private Eye ::Funny Old World