Young Scots risk losing their sight in bid to get blind drunk

WITH one of the highest rates of binge drinking among teenagers, Scotland already has an unenviable reputation with alcohol.

But now experts are warning about a new trend among young people that is aimed at speeding up the process of getting drunk – pouring shots of alcohol directly into their eyes.

Known as "one-in-the-eye", it involves using shot glasses in a manner similar to that of eye-wash.

Despite the risk of blindness, users hope that by absorbing the alcohol via the membranes of the eye, it will enter the bloodstream more quickly and have a stronger effect when it reaches the brain.

Originating in the bars of holiday resorts on the continent, the dangerous fad has caught on in university bars and nightclubs, despite potentially catastrophic consequences.

One leading doctor warned those who indulge in the craze are seriously endangering their sight.

Dr Maggie Watts, chairman of the Scottish Association of Alcohol and Drugs Action Teams, said: "It is an extremely dangerous activity. It can damage the front of your eye and can cause the bursting of blood vessels.

"Persisting in doing this could lead to permanent damage. There is the possibility of blindness.

"Once you get scarring on the cornea that can be a very serious problem."

And another expert added: "There are so many youngsters now doing this that it is only a matter of time before someone loses their sight.''

But as the new university term approaches, many students fail to see the potential harm in the drinking game.

Charlotte Greene, 23, said she drank a shot of vodka through her eye.

The former Strathclyde University student said: "It's the kind of daft thing more and more students are tempted to do. You're young and you're messing around.

"I took it like an eye-wash and then just waited to see what happened.

"It was very messy, most of it ran down my face and ruined my make-up.

"But it did start to sting almost straightaway and my eye went bright red and bloodshot.

"I'm not sure how much actually went in my eye. I had quite a lot to drink already but I think it did tip me over the edge.

"My eye was red and sore until the following evening. I was a bit worried I had damaged something. So I just drank the normal way after that.

"It was all a bit silly and a bit of an experiment, but it was fun at the time."

Alcohol awareness counsellors said they are horrified by the trend.

Meg Wright, chief executive of Glasgow Council on Alcohol, said: "We are very concerned about the rise in this practice and about anyone who misuses alcohol in this way."

And Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Traders Association, said that his members would not tolerate such behaviour if they saw people doing it in their bars.

He said: "They would be horrified, really, and put a stop to it immediately. It's a dangerous and ridiculous practice and we would have no truck with it".

Kenny MacAskill, the justice minister, has repeatedly spoken out against the problem of binge drinking among young people, threatening to crack down on the sale of cheap alcohol in supermarkets and under-age drinking.

A Scottish Government spokesman said they were outraged by the craze.

"We strongly condemn all irresponsible uses of alcohol, which can lead to very serious health consequences in both the long and short term,'' he said.