From BSA Health and Safety Alerts

Water Chugging

Letter from Boston Minuteman Council Risk Management Committee

The practice of water chugging is dangerous. Efforts should be taken to discourage such contests for the following reasons:

• American young people have died or suffered life-threatening illnesses because of water chugging. In 2005, four members of a Chico State California fraternity received jail terms for their role in the death of 21-year-old Matthew Carrington, who was forced to drink water as part of his initiation.(1) In 2003, at the State University of New York Plattsburgh, 11 young men were charged in the death of student Walter Dean Jennings, who was asked to drink water through a funnel to the point of vomiting.(2) Also, in 2003, 21-year-old Braylon Curry, a student at Southern Methodist University in Texas, was hospitalized in critical condition after chugging water in a fraternity stunt.(3) Although some injuries and fatalities associated with water chugging have occurred during hazing incidents, the same type of risks are presented by chugging contests involving young people.
   

Click HERE to read the rest of this important information.
Go to BSA Health and Safety Alerts for more information on important issues.

---

Have a question, concern, or suggestion? Email us (link).
Need directions to an event? How to get to our most common destinations.
Check our calendar for upcoming events.
Get a current BSA health form (if required).
Consider helping the troop! Info here.