Soldier died after drinking ’16 shots in 30 minutes’

A young soldier died after being forced to drink 16 shots of spirits in just half-an-hour at his leaving party, an inquest heard.

Andrew Murgatroyd, who was said to drink rarely, passed out and choked on his own vomit after downing two glasses containing eight shots each.

The drinks were dubbed ‘top shelf’ as they contained a measure from every bottle along the Army bar.

The 21-year-old’s wife, Shawni, said she was so worried she offered to down the second cocktail herself but was not allowed to.

Neither his colleagues nor bar staff were aware that ‘top shelf’ cocktails had been banned. Pte Murgatroyd’s death at Buckley Barracks in Hullavington, Wiltshire, prompted the coroner to challenge defence secretary Philip Hammond to act.

A pathologist found he had died from choking on his own vomit while acutely intoxicated with more than 320mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in his system.

Private contractor Elior, which ran the bar, had not been told the drinks were banned under Army regulations.

Full-Story: The Metro