the OPP
The Rainy River OPP is cautioning the public to be aware of a new online trend called “Neknomination.”
The concept involves a drinking game where a person quickly will consume a large quantity of alcohol by “necking” the bottle while participating in some type of extremely risky activity.
The event is videotaped and then uploaded to a social media site while challenging at least two friends to respond with an increasingly risky activity.
The concept recently garnered international media attention because some of the activities have led to serious bodily injury and death.
Local officers are aware of a recently-posted Neknomination video involving youth from the Atikokan area.
This is a community safety issue and the OPP currently are investigating the incident.
Where appropriate, charges will be laid.
Parents are requested to talk to their children about their alcohol use and online risky behaviour.
“Videos such as this negatively impact our youth because they promote dangerous behaviour and glorify heavy alcohol consumption,” said OPP Cst. Anne McCoy.
“Alcohol-related tragedies are the number-one cause of injury and death in youth and most are preventable,” she added.
“With this particular fad, youth are not only under the influence of alcohol but are also impacted by peer pressure to take part in increasingly dangerous activities, which could result in deadly consequences,” she warned.
