A 21-year-old man from Karnataka’s Kolar district died after consuming five bottles of alcohol without water as part of a bet. The incident occurred in Pujarahalla village.
The deceased, Karthik, reportedly entered into a wager with his friend Venkata Reddy, agreeing to drink the alcohol undiluted in exchange for Rs 10,000. On Sunday night, he consumed all five bottles without mixing water, in keeping with the terms of the bet. Shortly afterwards, he collapsed and was rushed to hospital. Despite the doctors’ efforts, Karthik died while undergoing treatment.
Karthik had only recently become a father. His wife had given birth to their daughter just nine days before his death. The couple had been married for a year.
Mulbagal police have begun an investigation into the circumstances of the incident. Authorities have reiterated the dangers of reckless drinking and urged the public to avoid risky behaviour involving alcohol.
Health experts continue to caution against alcohol misuse. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there is no scientifically established “safe” level of alcohol consumption. The WHO explains that no amount of drinking is free from health risks, including cancer. Its 2023 report stated that existing evidence does not show any threshold below which alcohol’s carcinogenic effects do not occur.
Furthermore, the WHO notes that no studies currently prove that the potential benefits of light or moderate drinking outweigh the increased risk of cancer. “We cannot talk about a so-called safe level of alcohol use. It doesn't matter how much you drink; the risk to the drinker’s health starts from the first drop,” said Dr Carina Ferreira-Borges, Regional Advisor for Alcohol and Illicit Drugs at WHO Europe. “The more you drink, the more harmful it is or, in other words, the less you drink, the safer it is.”
Source: India Today