On Saturday 6th October a teenager had to have her stomach removed in an emergency operation after being served a cocktail containing liquid nitrogen. Gaby Scanlan, 18, was on a night out with friends in Lancaster to celebrate her birthday when she consumed the deadly frozen vapour. This story, although extreme, is an unfortunate example of the extent to which people assume that alcoholic beverages served in licensed premises are safe.
However, we mis-judge the safety of the places we go; an example being Gaby Scanlan’s case. Students need to be alerted to the dangers of beverages that have been made to look exciting or “fancy” by dangerous gimmicks, such as mixing too many types of liquors together or the adding of strange substances. Miss Scanlan’s Jagermeister drink had been made with liquid nitrogen to produce a steaming “cauldron effect”, and yet the inviting drink resulted in dire consequences. Drinks are not always regulated as they should be, and bartenders hand out so many in a given night that occasionally horror stories do occur.
The reality of drinking at a club
When people buy alcohol they rarely doubt that they are getting “the real deal”. Therefore, they are reluctant to take the same precautionary measures as they may do with drugs, more commonly known for containing lethal impurities. Chloe, studying Natural Sciences, said: “Whenever I buy drinks in Nottingham’s bars or clubs I never consider that they could be unsafe, if anything my only concern is that the vodka hasn’t been watered down!” It is easy to get carried away on a night out at University and students should be especially aware of the dangers of taking drinks from communal punch bowls or ‘mine-sweeping’ (picking up and drinking) random, unattended drinks. This is extremely dangerous as you have no way of knowing what harmful substances you could potentially be ingesting or how strong the drink may be.
Advice for the future
If you put down your drink and move away, don’t go back to it. Alcoholic drinks can easily be spiked and girls are often too trusting and don’t take this issue seriously enough. Imogen R., reading English with Hispanic Studies, says she often lets her guard down on nights out in Nottingham: “When I was travelling around Latin America I was very cautious to not let my drink out of my sight, but the other night when I was in Market Bar, I left my drink on its own for ages and honestly didn’t think twice about it.” It only takes two seconds for someone to slip something into your drink, so keep your hand glued to it in future until you’ve finished it – drink spiking is a much more common occurrence that you realise. Additionally, recent studies have shown that women at universities with higher binge drinking rates have a greater chance of being sexually assaulted while intoxicated. Women can become intoxicated faster due to the differences in body composition and it doesn’t take long for a light or small person to get intoxicated. Remember to eat before, during and after drinking, and always keep hydrated with water.
Sources:
http://www.dailymaihttp://www.unhs.co.uk/unhs/your-health/health-and-wellbeing/alcohol.aspxl.co.uk/news/article-2214268/Gaby-Scanlon-Teenager-stomach-removed-save-life-drinking-trendy-liquid-nitrogen-cocktail.html
http://www.unhs.co.uk/unhs/your-health/health-and-wellbeing/alcohol.aspx