Young graduate dies in 'last man standing' drinking competition inspired by American Pie

A finance graduate collapsed and died after copying a tequila and gin drinking contest from a Hollywood comedy film.

In the space of 45 minutes, David Reid and a friend downed half-bottles of the spirits, as well as shots of whisky, having already spent the day drinking beer and cocktails.

The 22-year-old, who had landed a job at the Bank of New York and was just setting out on his career, began speaking "gibberish" and was carried to bed. When his friend checked on him during the night, he was dead.

His father Philip Reid, a former pub landlord, told of his shock at how a single drinking session had taken his son's life.

"A lot is said about the superficial effects of binge-drinking, such as fighting, but this shows it can kill," he said.

"A drinking contest might be fun for 15 minutes, but the consequences are not worth it."

He added: "Every shot David took was like a bullet. All the hard work put in through school, sixth form and university, gone in an instant."

David and his friend James Lynch had been attempting to emulate the "last

man standing" scene from American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile, which ends when one "contestant" passes out.

They had been with friends who spent a Saturday afternoon last February watching a football match on television while drinking several pints of beer.

David, a healthy young man described as an ordinary social drinker by friends, had a hangover from going out the night before, but soon joined in.

Later, following a takeaway meal, they went to James Lynch's home to watch a DVD, play cards and drink margarita cocktails.

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Mr Lynch, of Levenshulme, Manchester, told an inquest that after the American Pie drinking game David, who lived nearby, was put to bed in a sleeping bag on a bedroom floor.

But around four hours later, when Mr Lynch got up to use the toilet, his friend had stopped breathing. An ambulance was called but it was too late.

David, who had a degree in international finance from Manchester University, normally drank only at weekends, said Mr Lynch.

"I can't be too clear on what happened but, on a normal night, David

would have about seven or eight pints," he added.

"On this occasion, he drank far more than that. It was completely out of character."

Tests found he had more than sixanda-half times the drink- drive limit with 524mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The driving limit is 80mg.

He also had cannabis and cocaine in his system.

The inquest heard that David died from alcohol poisoning.

Recording a verdict of misadventure, Manchester deputy coroner Leonard Gorodkin said: "He had drunk a vast amount and what can be all right so many times, the next occasion can end in tragedy."

After the hearing, David's 55-yearold father, who once ran a pub in Hindley Green, near Wigan, appealed to youngsters to drink responsibly.

"Whatever you do, don't do what David did and throw as much down your neck as quickly as possible because that isn't pleasurable, it's potentially suicidal."

He said he had been shocked to learn his son had simply been overwhelmed by the volume of alcohol.

"He was with his friends, they apparently all drank the same amount - how come he was dead and they weren't?

"And then you realise there's no reason to it, it's just his body wouldn't cope."

Frank Soodeen, of Alcohol Concern, said: "Too often binge-drinking is seen as a subject for amusing anecdotes or as a rite of passage.

"It's vital we provide better information about the risks of drinking heavily on any one evening."