10-year-old NekNomination victim downs vodka cocktail

The NekNomination craze is definitely getting out of hand. There have now been five deaths as a direct result of the drinking game, where friends dare each other to down a huge amount of alcohol.

The problem started with university students a few months ago, but it has now spread to secondary and even primary schools. The most shocking case to date saw a 10-year-old boy from the Calderdale district of West Yorkshire down a cocktail of vodka, cream, Nando’s sauce and mayonnaise; unsurprisingly, he became seriously sick and required medical attention.

The father of a 13-year-old from Halifax who succumbed to peer pressure aired his concerns, saying: “Young kids are taking part in large numbers. They are under pressure to perform the stunts – and many are buckling. It is rife. It won’t be long before a child or teenager at school dies from being NekNominated.”

Primary school head teachers are warning children through daily assemblies of the dangers of drinking.

The problem is being driven by social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. Neither is currently doing anything constructive to stop children sharing their NekNomination videos online.

Currently the youngest victim was 19-year-old Jonny Byrne from Ireland, but it is only a matter of time before somebody much younger bows to peer pressure and forces down a fatal alcoholic cocktail.

The first recorded NekNomination was that of Ross Samson in Dubai, who downed a beer before encouraging friends to do the same. He has since snubbed the game and does not wish to be associated with it.