Bjorn Burke, Staff Reporter

A 23-year-old man appears to be the latest victim of a fatal concoction of rum and a popular energy drink, THE STAR has learnt.

The deceased, of a Mannings Hill Road, Kingston 8, address, is thought to have consumed the alcohol- energy drink mix so as to relieve a bout of diarrhoea he was reportedly experiencing. It is believed that this was recommended to him as a remedy of sorts for his condition.

THE STAR was reliably informed that the man's condition appeared to be improving when he suddenly collapsed. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

When our news team contacted the uncle of the deceased, he appeared to be shaken up, stating that he "cannot talk" and did not give much details surrounding the incident, but confirmed the death.

popular concoction

When THE STAR took to the streets, several citizens weighed in on the concoction that is seemingly quite popular in corner bars and dancehall spheres.

"Mi nuh know, people a say it nuh good, but people always mix it and drink it and mi nuh see nothing wrong with dem," said Yvonne Green, 46. "When me drink it, it race mi heart. Anytime mi a drink, mi just order a special and mi nuh find nuh effect of it. From it nuh do mi nothing, mi nah stop. Mi nuh addicted to it, but you know sometime when we deh deh pon we corner and build a little vibes, we just have a sip."

Green stated that she continues to "take chance" despite being aware of the apparent dangers.

"Me know people weh drink it every day, and a nuh nuh one or two. Dem drink whole heap till dem drunk and nothing nuh wrong with dem," said 23-year-old Sashana Nash.

Nash believes that anybody who is said to have succumbed to any such mixture must have had an ailment of some sort. She explained that she is not fazed in any way.

steer clear

Another woman, who wished to remain unnamed, stated that she intends to steer clear of any such blend that may send her to an early grave.

"Persons who are around me that drink, me never really hear them have any problem, but I know it is dangerous. Where I live, di boy dem drink it every day and every night, mi nuh know how nothing nuh do dem. Maybe their mentality is that nothing nah do dem and they think that they are safe," she said.

THE STAR contacted medical doctor Jephthah Ford, who warned of the dangers of such a combination.

"The energy drink masks the level of inebriation; before you realise it, your blood alcohol level is way over and it's a situation where, if there is any abnormality with the liver, there is a danger of dying," Ford cautioned. "Normally, when people go out to drink, they start feeling a little tipsy. In this case, you don't, and so you feel that you are all right and suddenly, you're done," Ford added.

In response to the deceased man's presumed demise as a result of formulating the mixture, the medical practitioner gave one final and sobering warning to members of the public: "I want to say to people, do not do this. Do not drink energy drinks and rum together. I want to re-emphasise the dangers of this practice to people."