8 men fined after friend drinks himself to death

[tw]

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

If your friend Johnny told you you to drink more, would you?

Is it a question or is it 10 people demanding that you not 'put a bummer on the party'? That detail is essential long before anyone can answer the question.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

If your friend Johnny told you you to drink more, would you?

If he was buying.

Originally Posted by Tonchi

snip~ ...you are dealing with EIGHT Little Emperors out of control. Nobody is documenting the impaired condition of these so-called friends themselves....~snip

Because it was a family celebration, I figured there was probably an age spread, among the eight. Rereading the link doesn't clarify.

Originally Posted by Stormieweather

How do you "make" someone drink too much? Sit on them and pour it down their throat? If they did that, then yes...the friends are at fault. However, although urging an intoxicated individual to have another drink may be irresponsible, it is ultimately up to the drinker to say no, I've had enough.

A bartender has a different responsibility. He is the source of the alcohol and sells for profit. So rather than attempt to make another sale at the expense of an innocent who may get in the way of the drunk customer, he needs to slow or stop the customer's consumption before they reach dangerous levels.

Stormie

Wow... the liquor store that sells anything other than those little "airplane" bottles are fucked then.

[breakingnews]

Originally Posted by Tonchi

How many 20-year-old males that you know do not think they are invincible, immortal, and essentially indestructable?

None. But I still don't see your point. Do you mean just because the guy who died is 20 years old (and perhaps his friends, too), his friends are automatically released from any responsibility for what happened? Let's say the eight guys were in fact huddled around him, chiding him for wanting to pass out and insisting that he keep drinking. You're saying this would not have been a factor in his death? Even if his parents had cautioned him about overdrinking, you don't think peer pressure and impairment might have affected his decision making? That it was simply a poor upbringing that caused this tragic accident? Can I go rob a bank and blame my parents because they didn't give me any money? And what if he and the other guys weren't the only children in their families? Does this entirely alter your Little Emperor theory?

Originally Posted by Tonchi

... The Chinese judge who slapped these boys with the fine is not going to go home that night and lecture his OWN SON about drinking responsibly and morality.

Then, in my own opinion, he is not a good father. What I hope he does teach his son is one of the mainstays of Chinese culture, ren ai, the concept of benevolence and humanity. This includes helping others who can't help themselves.

[Ibby]

ren ai went out with Mao.

[breakingnews]

Originally Posted by Ibram

ren ai went out with Mao.

there's still hope, my friend.

[Aliantha]

To me the question of whether the friends should be responsible or not can only be answered by them. If they feel guilt over his death, then chances are they feel there is something they could have done to stop this tragedy. If in fact they believe they could have done something and didn't, then that lays a certain burden of guilt on the friends. Personally, I don't think fining them is going to punish them in any way. They'll carry this with them for the rest of their lives. Let that be enough.

I know I'd feel responsible if I were drinking with a friend who subsequently died from causes brought on by that drinking session. Wouldn't you?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Maybe, but if they were also drinking heavily they may just chalk it up to his bad luck. That could be a viable rationalization, if they were too drunk to realize he was in trouble, then certainly too drunk to realize he was overdoing it.

[Aliantha]

Yeah...that could be true too. It's always very difficult to come to any real conclusion when all you have to rely on for facts is the media, and as we all know, the media is not always 100% correct. I still think they'd be feeling guilty though...unless they were totally and completely morally bankrupt.