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German bar-owner jailed over fatal drink duel with teen
Jul 3, 2009, 15:33 GMT
Berlin - A German bar-owner was sent to prison for 41 months Friday for a drinking duel with a teenaged boy which plunged the schoolboy into a fatal coma.
The Berlin bar owner cheated, mainly pouring himself water, while 16-year-old Lukas drank at least 45 shots of tequila, the Mexican spirit. The schoolboy later became unconscious with brain damage and died in hospital.
The February 2007 case triggered an outpouring of concern about the new fashion among German teenagers for binge drinking.
The 28-year-old owner, whose bar has since closed, told the court earlier that he accepted moral responsibility for Lukas' death.
He was convicted of causing fatal bodily harm and serving hard liquor to a minor.
Lukas was pronounced brain-dead four weeks after the drinking bout. Judges said the man had served high-alcohol beverages to his teenaged patrons without hesitation.
Germany's special commissioner for addiction, Sabine Baetzing, said Friday she did not think there was any need to change German laws that permit people over 16 to buy wine and beer, and over 18 to buy spirits.
Two young assistants from the bar, who kept count during the bout and poured the tequila into Lukas' glass, were earlier convicted and sent to a 10-month course to learn adequate adult behaviour.
Lukas' mother, who said he often drank, told the court she had no knowledge of the drinking session until after her son collapsed.
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