Boy Dies From Drinking Homebrew Ouzo

[Andyd]

There are many arguments that can be used to point out that any form of regulatory or legislative interference with the hobby arising from this incident would be inappropriate, as has been pointed out here. Most of these have been highlighted in previous posts.

The key issue is not about "a message" or anything like that. The real issue is that it is the responsibility of every adult who has an impact on the education of these kids to help them understand the effects that alcohol has on them. This needs more than just "a message".

• It needs parents to set a good example of how alcohol can be enjoyed sensibly.
• It needs teachers to help the kids understand the physical effects that alcohol can have on the body.
• It needs the teachers to help the kids understand that by setting up challenges that stretch the limits of the body (whether related to alcohol consumption or to physical feats), they may be contributing directly to the death of one of their close mates.

There is so much more at fault here than the alcohol that was consumed. As has been pointed out, the poor boy could have been drinking commercial grade vodka, ouzo or any liquor with an extreme alcohol content and the effect would most likely have been the same.

It is a tragic loss for the boys family, and justice would not be done if the focus remained on the fact that home-brewed ouzo was the source of the alcohol.

Andy

 

[mouapp12]

Geez, what are you? made of money? If you were a really desperate teenager looking for cheap beer you could do 23L of homebrand draft+2KG of homebrand sugar and make a double strength brew for about $8

(Would I drink it? No.... but I wouldn't skull 2 bottles of ouzo either!)

but that $8 beer gets you around 140 standard drinks, where as $8 of homemade vodka is around 370 standards (i think)

the sad thing is most schools have drug/alcohol awareness programs but im still telling my friends basic stuff like what a standard drink is, i don't think most people retain anything about them

 

[white.grant]

Can't get passed the fact that sculling Ouzo is a pretty sad way to die, reminds me of "metho drinker" by Judith Wright, which ends

"It was for Death he took her; death is but this;
and yet he is uneasy under her kiss
and winces from that acid of her desire. "

 

[bigholty]

I have heard of people making so-called home-made ouzo by purchasing large bottles of liquorice or aniseed flavouring essence and then adding a quantity of sugar solution to bring it to a palatable state. Some flavouring essences are actually quite high in ethanol content (as much as 30%). The essences are able to be purchased by under-age people, and are often cheaper than booze as they aren't sold or taxed as an alcoholic beverage. I would like to know whether the ouzo this young bloke drank was of this sort, or whether it was in fact produced as we all assume, through home distillation and addition of flavouring.

 

[stowaway]

I dont fear this being the end of the homebrew at all.
its always been illegal to brew over 15% ?? right?

Homebrewing beer is completely different to homebrewing spirits.

 

[geoffi]

I dont fear this being the end of the homebrew at all.
its always been illegal to brew over 15% ?? right?

Homebrewing beer is completely different to homebrewing spirits.

Yes indeed. But the takeaway quote from this that most people will get is 'homebrew ouzo'. Facts? The tabloid media and manipulative politicians need no stinking facts!

I have to admit, though, I've always found it odd that theoretically anybody old enough to present the money can buy home-brewing or even distilling gear. I guess the thing that's stopped this from becoming an issue is that most kids are too utterly bone lazy to go to the effort of making their own. Mind you, maybe this publicity will result in a boom in sales to under-agers.

 

[petesbrew]

Yes indeed. But the takeaway quote from this that most people will get is 'homebrew ouzo'. Facts? The tabloid media and manipulative politicians need no stinking facts!

I have to admit, though, I've always found it odd that theoretically anybody old enough to present the money can buy home-brewing or even distilling gear. I guess the thing that's stopped this from becoming an issue is that most kids are too utterly bone lazy to go to the effort of making their own. Mind you, maybe this publicity will result in a boom in sales to under-agers.

Awesome, more people on AHB! I guess we'd better start looking out for posts from all the Corey's and Emo's like, "parents heading away this weekend= party time! Now, how quickly can I make a TED?"

 

[Interloper]

Now, how quickly can I make a TED?"

TED? what's a TED?

 

[microbe]

Tooheys Extra Dry?? perhaps

 

[Bribie G]

Geez, what are you? made of money? If you were a really desperate teenager looking for cheap beer you could do 23L of homebrand draft+2KG of homebrand sugar and make a double strength brew for about $8

Back in May when the alcopop frenzy was on, I was actually mostly a wine drinker and preferred the lighter cask wines rather than the 13.5% bottles. There was a suggestion (and still going the rounds) that all alcohol should be taxed equally and this would put casks up to forty bucks each and totally end the business. So I thought "bugger them" and bought fermenter number one, three kilos of sugar, some ginger, yeast nutrient and a sparkling wine yeast. Ran up 25 litres of ginger beer which I boosted with Bundberg Ginger Beer cordial and it actually turned out quite nice for about seven dollars plus the cordial.

Then I thought... mmmm a Coopers stout would be nice... then I found this forum, bought three more fermenters, and the rest is history

On a sober note, friend of mine years ago tried to commit suicide by skulling two bottles of vodka, it was a good brand apparently and he nearly died, they helicoptered him to Redcliffe hospital and pumped him full of charcoal and it was hit or miss for a while. So it doesn't matter if it's home brewed or not.

 

[Fents]

I have heard of people making so-called home-made ouzo by purchasing large bottles of liquorice or aniseed flavouring essence and then adding a quantity of sugar solution to bring it to a palatable state. Some flavouring essences are actually quite high in ethanol content (as much as 30%). The essences are able to be purchased by under-age people, and are often cheaper than booze as they aren't sold or taxed as an alcoholic beverage. I would like to know whether the ouzo this young bloke drank was of this sort, or whether it was in fact produced as we all assume, through home distillation and addition of flavouring.

does it really matter how it was made? who cares if it was home brewed / distilled, brought from a shop. Point is the kid necked 2 bottles of very potent alcohol and died as a result.

 

[KingPython]

I remember a few years ago in Melton a boy died of Vodka essense overdose and I'm quite sure that a few laws were changed to try and stop it from happening again. Maybe it was a Victoria only thing?

The two issues that are brought by home distilled ouzo is easy access and cost but as said before this could of happened with store brought alcohol. At 15 he would of not known any better probably drank the first bottle didn't feel anything and went in with the second.

 

[QldKev]

Lets face it, 16 year olds generally are not the ones making homebrew. Taxing homebrew will just cost more for the parents. Maybe the peers that pressured the drinking should also be on criminal charges? Put the responsibility back where it belongs.

QldKev

 

[Adamt]

I feel sorry for the poor kid, 16, and got peer pressured into drinking. Obviously, drinking 2 bottles of ouzo isn't a great idea, I'm sure he knew that, but peer pressure does make you do some crazy things if you're not one of the more popular kids.

The way I see it, the more of these stories the better. Teaching about safe drinking in school hasn't worked for years, certainly didn't work with my generation (~7 years ago) and obviously isn't working now. Underage drinking will never go away but stories like this hopefully prevent idiotic acts like this in the future.

 

[Brewtus]

You don't even have to be 18 to buy home brew kits / stills, that would be a logical step to take).

Followed by an age limit on hops, Saunders malt extract, tandaco yeast, sugar, golden syrup, honey, fruit juice, grapes, apples .....it is all just a logical step.

Note than it seems none of his friends saw the danger signs and did not know what to do as "her brother and others put Daryl into a car after he had passed out at the party and drove him to her parents' house where they called an ambulance." They may not have saved him whatever they did but it makes me wonder if better first aid will be an outcome of this sad event.

 

[Muggus]

I found it a bit odd that it was Ouzo of all things. Not exactly one of those common spirits, and nor is it a favourite of young people.
Regardless, 2 bottles of the stuff in short succession, surely you'd think someone would've known better, even if they were young.

 

[Mercs Own]

Dont kids die from petrol sniffing and that only costs $1.60 a litre?!

Man it is too sad and too stupid!! Andy said it well but left one thing out government education. Really the main point is education from every quarter. I cant believe that the kids egging him on thought it was a good thinkg and for that they are all responsible but why did they not realise it was a stupid thing why did know one step in and stop it?? Education. Why was there a party (underage) with alcohol and no parent surpervision.

I disagree with the alcpop tax because it is not going to stop binge drinking or irresponsible drinking I think the only thing that may make an impact is education on all fronts. Real TV commercials, real education at a school level, real education aimed at parents (how did he think it was a good idea, why didnt he know it wasnt) to make sure they get the message and pass it on to their kids.

Yes if we take away alcohol from society then we will never have this happen again and then if we take cars away we will not suffer road fatalities either but that is not an answer as we all know. The answer is education starting at home, aimed at the family and reinforced by schools and government. It doesnt help when you have football heros crashing their car and being three times over the limit nor your so called mates egging you on at a party all in the name of a bit of fun.

The worst part of it with the alcopop tax is how much of that money collected is actually going to really truly and honestly go into education regarding the dangers of binge drinking?

 

[Franko]

I feel sorry for the family but ,

quote from the article:"He sculled the first bottle and then some people were egging him on to scull the next one,"

You've just got to say What an idiot

 

[oldbugman]

A true candidate for this year's Darwin Awards.
I wonder if his friends learn from this? Probably not.

I wonder if there will be ouzo at his wake.

 

[trevc]

I wonder if there will be ouzo at his wake.

Two bottles per table