Tequila!

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, March 8, 2005:

The 21-year-old winner of a competition to drink the most tequila died and three other contestants were gravely ill in the hospital, Dominican officials said.

Ricardo Ivan Garcia drank more than 50 shots of tequila Sunday night at Santo Domingo's Blanc, Dance and Lounge discotheque to win the prize of $330 at a Mexican night celebration.

But he was taken ill, hospitalized, and died within hours, apparently from heart failure brought on by alcohol poisoning, public prosecutor Jose Hernandez Peguero said on Monday.

Two other contestants remained in serious condition in the hospital, family members said. The third contestant -- identified as radical American politico Ron -- was released from the hospital with a "clean bill of health" after 12 hours according to Ronatarian Party officials.

According to Ronatarian sources, Ron would have won the competition had he not decided to chase each tequila shot with beer. He still managed to take 2nd place. He won $50 and a miniature inflatable palm tree.

Posted by Bittle at March 8, 2005 10:13 AM