A HOST OF groups have slammed the “neknomination” social media game, with a judge saying that it will lead to a “tsunami of murder and rape prosecutions”.

Justice Paul Carney today told the trial of a man who claimed he had been drinking when he raped an acquaintance that he was worried that drinking games would cause widespread problems.

The judge was echoed by the Taoiseach, who implored young people to “give up neknominations, they are not a game”.

The calls come after two deaths over the weekend were linked with the craze, which involves downing a pint on video while nominating peers to do the same.

The videos have taken an air of one-upmanship, with the brother of one of the dead saying that his brother jumped into a river while filming his video.

Affordability

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland called for government action on the game.

Professor Frank Murray, Chair of the RCPI Policy Group on Alcohol, said that the proposed minimum pricing on alcohol would help.

“Sadly this extreme binge drinking will likely lead to more deaths. We support the Government in urgently implementing measures to restrict the affordability and availability of alcohol.

“We need to ensure our young people are equipped with the knowledge to make safe choices with regard to alcohol, and the government has a major role to play in supporting them in this.”

Read: ‘Will it take my brother’s death for people to realise how stupid neknomination is?’

Read: ‘Neknomination’ is the new social media craze