Cheering friends and onlookers record the number of shots downed by players, sometimes by scratching marks on the drinker's arm; a Michigan State student who died of an alcohol overdose in 1998 had 24 such marks on his arm from a two-hour drinking binge. Some bars even provide vomit buckets as a useful souvenir for players, who also know the game as "21 for 21" -- referring to the number of drinks the newly minted legal drinkers are trying to consume in an hour.

This and similar drinking games have led to a number of deaths, and states like Texas and North Dakota are trying to thwart such rituals by delaying the legal drinking age to the morning after people reach the age of 21, not midnight.

Some bars have posted signs warning that they won't serve 21 drinks to 21-year-olds, while others maintain that it is the customer's responsibility to drink sensibly.

"We were having a power hour a night, and no problems," said Pete Sabo, the owner of the Bison Turf, a bar close to North Dakota State University where a 21-year-old went into a coma during one such drinking game. "There's responsible drinkers at 18 and there's irresponsible drinkers at 50. Making them wait eight hours later is not going to make them any more responsible."

Schools and charities also become more proactive in warning students against overindulging on their 21st birthdays, sending out postcards to those who are about to reach legal drinking age.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by Ruth Cooper on 09 Jun 08 03:29 PM EDT

I would be interested in a follow-up article about how the North Dakota Alcoholic Beverage Control Board responded to this incident. Was the establishment fined? Was the bartender arrested? Did the establishment have its liquor license suspended?

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