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'All you can drink' cancelled after student dies at freshers' event
29 Sep 2009
A controversial "all you can drink" night was one of two student parties cancelled at the last minute after a new undergraduate at University College, London, collapsed and died at a freshers' event.
The 19-year-old, who was due to begin his undergraduate degree this week, suffered a suspected heart attack during the 'Freshers' Fiesta' party night at the Camden venue Koko in the early hours of yesterday.
The death shocked many of those preparing to attend the numerous student celebrations around the capital as the new academic year begins.
The unidentified student was rushed to University College Hospital but could not be revived.
Police are investigating the death but are not believed to be treating it as suspicious at the moment.
In the wake of the death, the UCL and the Students Union said in a joint statement last night: “The UCL community was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the death of a UCL undergraduate who was about to begin his degree here.
“Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this time.
“The student concerned collapsed at an event for new students at a local nightclub in the early hours of this morning.
“He was assisted by event staff and taken by ambulance to University College Hospital, where he later died.''
As a mark of respect, the Union cancelled the Vodpop Skool Disco at Pacha, another major event marking the start of 'Freshers' Fortnight' at UCL.
At the same time, Den & Centro, a bar near Tottenham Court Road, decided to scrap its all you can drink night' on police advice after the Kok death.
The Standard revealed yesterday how the bar was launching a regular Monday night event, called Skint!' aimed at students offering drinkers as much beer, wine and spirits as they liked for £15.
It had been advertised as “London's only all-you-can-drink student night”, and its Facebook page promised: “Drink as much as you WANT… Drink as much as you CAN… Drink as much as you DARE… ALL NIGHT LONG!!!”
Health campaigners had roundly criticised the event as “irresponsible.”
Officers from Camden's licensing unit, which also covers Koko, contacted the bar after the death.
A club spokesman said: “In the light of what happened at Koko and the police's concerns we decided to withdraw the unlimited drinks promotion. All those who had bought tickets will get a full refund.”
Around 500 clubbers had bought tickets in advance were reportedly upset to be told on the door last night that the offer was cancelled.
Instead they were allowed in for £5 with one free drink each.
Today promoters admitted the future of the event was in doubt.
Luke Barnes, who runs Main Room Events, said: “The venue decided this was the best thing to do. We cannot really say what will happen in the future as we haven't decided.”
Reader views (15)
To the family and friends of the deceased student who was just starting on a new chapter in their lives and had it cut tragically short, my heartfelt condolences.
To any readers who have very strong opinions on the drinking habits of students and a leaning towards it being a contemporary problem (with a propensity to lay blame)...may I direct you to every single story for the last 600 years involving students and drinking (pretty much since the inception of universities), in particular the riot (yes, 3 day riot) in Oxford in 1355 that ensued after a group of students (and priests) accused a tavern owner of serving poor quality wine which resulted in violence, death and the Mayor swearing an oath to observe the University's privileges...ain't nothing new under the sun my friends.
Oh and please don't lump weed into the same category as alcohol...abuse of either is never a good thing but nothing speeds up negative mental health issues like sparking up a doobie on a regular basis.
- Ex-London, God's own county, 30/09/2009 01:19
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This is extremely sad for the poor boy who died and for his parents. I have just graduated from UCL and in response to many of the unfeeling people who have made comments: From my own experiences adjusting to student life can be very difficult, freshers week is seen as THE time to make "friends" and it can be very difficult to say no to your peers when placed into these vulnerable position. This boy was probably just like many other lonely freshers trying hard to make friends and impress his peers. Yes he may have made the choices, but when placed in these situations it is very difficult to make any other form of choice!! I am not a drinker or partier myself, i tried in in freshers week and did not enjoy it and for this I was shunned by all my housemates. This boy probably did not want to be placed in this position. Its sad that people feel the need to criticise him for something that students seem to be expected to do. My thoughts go out to his family.
- Mazza, London, 29/09/2009 22:49
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To Lydia and the rest of you who are making sweeping generalisations - I suggest you get your facts right. If you took the time to read this article, and others, you would see that he spoke clearly and coherently to the staff to tell them he didn't feel well. Does this sound like someone who was intoxicated - I think not.
How dare you assume he was drunk. I knew the student concerned and can assure that you couldn't meet a better person - he was mature and sensible - a pleasure to be around.
Before you make such ridiculous comments think about how his parents, family and friends are feeling.
- Sarah, UK, 29/09/2009 20:36
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- Josh Neicho, London, UK, 29/09/2009 18:49
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I'm sure it's quite rare to die of a heart attack from over drinking, however, putting no constraints on drinking on kids that have just left the restrictions of parental living are going to go mental regardless. If you couple that with the challenge to 'drink as much as you can' with a group of people they may have only known for a little while, it's going to be conducive to competitive bingeing on all sorts.Bad idea all round really....my thoughts go out to his friends and family...
- Lydia, United Kingdom, 29/09/2009 16:00
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Alcohol & Cigarettes are more dangerous than Marijuana - there is not a single case of anyone dying from smoking too many joints, attacking or murdering someone after a spliff or spending the night in hospital aftee the munchies.
The culture of drinking competitions in Uni are rife - and just look at the streets on a sat night on booze towns, taking up Police, NHS and Doctors resources.
Alcohol is the worst drug on the plante, but the govt are making so much money from taxes on booze and fags they dont care.
- Ancient Wisdom, London, England, 29/09/2009 14:13
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I'm a student who bought a ticket for last night, i was shocked to hear what had happened but, in no disrespect to the student who suffered a heart attack and sadly died, the heart attack has not been directly linked to alcohol or any other substance. It could have simply been a weakness in his heart. Slating the den for the night is ridiculous there are Hundreds of clubs across the country doing the same thing, only they are ripping students off and charging £29 or £35 or even more for tickets. the guys at The Den handled it really well last night & the club is fantastic i would DEFINATELY go there again, had a brilliant night. Criticising students on drinking is stupid. Im a 19 year old student, I know my limits, I would drink the same amount whether the drinks were free or not. I would simply drink before i went out? working in a bar myself I am well aware when someone is too drunk to serve. If you are foolish enough to get yourself in a state where you put your health in danger its your choice, but i can assure you its not all students who behave this way. Me and my friends watched a 50/60 year old man picked up in an ambulance last night curtousy of alcohol. I suggest those judging us get off thier high horses?
- Kathryn, south east london, 29/09/2009 13:28
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I studied at UCL until 2005. The union treated the students like they were empty headed lager louts and was incapable of arranging any entertainment other than awful discos. We used to hang out at SOAS instead, where the entertainment didn't revolve around crap music and alcohol.
- Matt, London, 29/09/2009 13:16
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So the old "weed" still gets slated, but it is ok to promote excessive class A (booze) use, at outrageously stupidly cheap prices. Something not quite right here? This surely will lead to more pointless street violence.
- Dom, London, 29/09/2009 12:32
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Typically, young students will arrive at uni as eco-nazis, health freaks, vegetarians and what not, yet will not give a second thought about getting regularly blasted or "living life to the full" as they call it. When the mind is weak, all you have left are extreme physical sensations in order to feel alive.
- Chaz, London, UK, 29/09/2009 12:23
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Is it beyond the realms of possibilty that an 18-19 year old undergraduate might have the intelligence to decide what they drink, or don't drink - or do the authorities intend to be on hand to decide on every life choice for them ?
It is very sad for this young man, his friends and family. If however the reason he is dead are the choices he made then so be it. He decided - he is dead. End of hand wringing.
- Bruno, Cumnock, 29/09/2009 12:17
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as anyone who has ever been to University knows, these type events are as common as can be. And generally do little harm to generations of the brightest minds in the country.
this however is a tragic event, and should be treated as such and not used to promote any other agenda.
- Scotty, london, 29/09/2009 12:12
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What a waste of a young life, and so avoidable it would appear.
- Kalvis Jansons, Hitchin, Herts, 29/09/2009 12:01
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I was surprised to find at university that 'official' events such as freshers' week encouraged excessive drinking.
Surely the message given out to students should be that drinking alcohol is not desirable or healthy, though socially acceptable in moderation.
- Nick, London, 29/09/2009 10:53
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I'm not an old killjoy fuddy-duddy but all you can drink parties really are a bridge too far. 'All you can eat' restaurants are well-known to promote gluttony, dangerous in itself, but 'all you can drink' is just challenging young people to drink themselves senseless on the strongest booze they can find, like the cheapskate uncle at the wedding free bar they have no control and won't know when to stop. I'd have been the same.
- Squiz, Islington, 29/09/2009 09:21
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