Don't you think the term "drink responsibly" is kind of an oxymoron? Drinking IMPAIRS your judgment so how can you be responsible? It's like saying, "If your going to snort coke than snort responsibly"!

This article is about a life lost due to the effects of a mind altering substance. Justsaying: I don't care for thekid's promotion of his choices either and maybe when he does it and those who don't like it, suggest removal. IMO to post he does this and admits to it in here says he has possession of an illegal substance and that is against the law and maybe the gazette should remove his posts when he gets on his soap box. Marijana is a mind and mood altering substance and driving under the influence of it can be just as deadly as driving while intoxicated. I have tried it YEARS ago and know how high and wasted you can get on it. WEED does impair your abilities and slows your reflexes just as alcohol. you can be ticketed for operating under the influence of THC and It will show up in the blood tests they now do for OWIs and other substances...... I don't care what he does with his personal life, IMO he should not try and force his views (of illegal choices) on others again and again in here. Just my Opinion.

Ok, with all the posts seen placed by "thekid3477" this has to be said by someone: Get a life and quit thinking that marijuana is the subject of every post on this site. I know I am not the only one who feels this way, for the sake of this grieving family, have the decency to be appropriate, since you think you have to write the word in your post so many times-figure out what it means and apply it to your apparently boring life

Just a reminder, Rock County Tavern League does have the Safe Ride program.

I don't know if there is a similar progam in La Crosse, but if there is, maybe they should revist the student use. JMO.

justme thank you! All the blaming in the world will not change this and to those who say drink responsibly, well some people cannot do that and IMO most young people think that they can hold their alcohol, when in reality no one knows how many drinks will get them drunk as your tolerance may differ from one day to the next. Still a sad loss and prayers to his family and friends. No comment to the other drug of choice posters in here other then it is illegal.

Numerous authorities at the federal level are convinced that all the deaths in Lacrosse are part of the "Smiley Face" murders which is a group of serial killers. They have even found the tell-tale smiley face drawn along the banks of the Mississippi River after several of the deaths. They find young drunk men and follow them after they leave the bars.

I see the comments about closing the bar and holding the bartenders responsible. Not sure how many of you have been to one of the bars in these college towns, but they can be packed. Someone could go out with a group of friends and only go up to the bar once or twice. Others go up to the bar to purchase drinks, so the bartender would not even know how intoxicated someone is. Responsibility is with the drinker. He probably has some guilty feeling friends too.

" there are laws in place to protect those who fail to protect themselves "
-
These are the worst kind of laws. Laws put in place to protect you from yourself are bad legislation...PERIOD.

Hey bobb- what the heck is "inapproiate" anyhow? Is it a noise you make? It most certainly is not a word in any language...

OK.
First I want to state that I strongly believe in personal accountability. However, the personal accountability doesn't end with the victim in this case.
.
I would assume we all agree that alcohol can be a dangerous mind-altering drug. As a result of us agreeing on that the legal system has placed some responsibility on those who serve alcohol. Whether it be a 21 year old supplying a 12 year old, or a bartender serving someone who is already drunk, there are laws in place to protect those who fail to protect themselves regarding the use/abuse of alcohol.
.
As a bartender, it is my job AND THE LAW to not serve someone who already appears to be intoxicated. If I make the PERSONAL and IRRESPONSIBLE choice to ignore that law than I can, AND SHOULD, be held PERSONALLY ACCOUNTABLE for my actions of not following the law.
.
These laws exist for a reason and EVERY BARTENDER is made of aware of them when they receive their license.
.
I am not saying jail for anyone but some responsbility, (assuming this young victim was intoxicated when he purchased his last drink, x2 the legal limit makes that a fair assumption) should be place on the bar/bar tender.
.
This young man paid the ultimate price...I don't believe he is the only one to blame. Over pouring drinks and over serving has become a norm in many taverns. People are made to believe they had 2 drinks when in reality, they had 4. Trust me, I see it everytime I work.
.
Bartending should be a job that takes responsbility and seriousness. Distributing alcohol...those that do should follow the LAW.

kid- hah!

Nine young men dead in that river from LaCrosse since the mid 90's. All for the same reason. Think La Crosse has a problem? Personal responsibility is part of it, or course. However, the City of LaCrosse needs to tighten up some laws. Perhaps a few less licenses? Perhaps, more diligence on the part of bar owners? Everyone needs to take some blame for this disgrace.

Everyone of you should be ashamed! This young man has a family, for Christ's sake! Lay off! I hope the family is doing their best to cope with this tragedy and God Bless!

I always look forward to reading the comments after an alcohol related story. I hope nobody hurts themselves coming off their high horse.

BTW if he was stoned on weed it wouldn't have happened cuz' he still would have had a brain in his head!!

I say the family should hold the federal gov't acountable for legalizing alchahol to begin with!! HA HA Where does the blaming stop?? The dude was STUPID--DRUNK and shouldn't have been anywhere near the river to begin with!! What a MAROON!!

I'm sure many of us have been plastered beyond belief but did we walk out on a semi frozen river? or walk on a rail of a bridge? It's sad he lost his life but it's nobody's fault but his own.

Exhale.

well said bobb. an extremely appropriate place for your opinion on when its ok to be inappropriate in the eyes of some who deem you inappropriate, whether that inappropriate post was meant to be inappropriate or not. good day sir.

I know this is off the subject of the article, but amen to you peppermeister. Since when it is a teacher's responsibility to teach accountability? I always thought teachers taught how to read and write, and the parents were suppose to raise the kids. Apparently I am way off in my thinking.

I say find out what he was drinking and sue the alcohol producer and the company that made the bottle or can that the alcohol was in.
Yea............that's the ticket.
Get Real................
Personal Responsibility PERIOD!

No surprises here!!

The bartender didn't poor it down his throat. .19 wont make you that drunk you don't know what the heck is going on around you! This is a terrible accident. Ever think it could have happened to a sober person too. Yes I hear of stories where SOBER people fall into the ice and die.

I find it in bad taste to publish this. I understand it could be public info but go find the info if you think you truly need the info. As Kid mentioned it was already ran in the past and the alcohol was related. WHY are you running it again? Slow day????

You should be happy he walked home and wasn't driving.

oh make no mistake carl. my reference was absolutely towards alcohol being worse than marijuana. it IS the eviler of two evils. thats not the same as my legalize marijuana rant which id be happy to start if youd like??

i always get a kick out of people who take the time to post telling others there post was not appropriate. is it appropriate to tell someone there post is inappropriate or does that make the poster as inappropriate as the poster who originally thought it was appropriate to post on a specific story, not realizing in fact it wasnt appropriate?? if its appropriate to the original poster does it really matter if a tool or two deem it inappropriate?? in the scheme of things i feel as long as you post w the intentions of being appropriate even if you know you are risking being inappropriate its ok to be inappropriate to those who dont think it thru fully and deem you inappropriate because they are just as inappropriate as your questionably inappropriate post.

Wisconsin has an over-serving law, but it is rarely -- if ever -- enforced:
http://www.todaystmj4.com/features/iteam...
.
In this case it would be very difficult to prove that he was served while visibly intoxicated. If the family were to sue, the jury would determine the percentage of culpability held by the bar(s) and bartender(s), as well as that held by the victim.
.
LaCrosse would probably be better off simply limiting its liquor licenses. They are already infamous (and supposedly in at least one edition of the Guinness Book of World Records) for having the most bars per capita -- recently measured at 360 total -- in Wisconsin or the US, depending on the retelling. Claim (someone should get an accurate count):
http://www.wickedlocal.com/clinton/news/...

Hmm, hence the reason why I can't bring myself to finish any alcohol... nor can I bring myself to go to a bar with people because I don't know how the drunk people will act. My life is much more important to me.... so is my hard earned money!

Sorry about that kid. Since most of your other posts are about how alchohol is worse than marijuana I only assumed...

What were you comparing? Living in LaCrosse compared to Janesville. College education vs. Tech School? Drowning vs. car accident? What about this story is the eviler of two evils?

Mikki - I totally agree.

carlp: i apologize if that comes off as low class to you. then again i dont care what you think so its not that big of a deal. this article isnt about this young man dieing. we already knew that. this story is about his level of BAC.

btw...ive reread my brief post a few times and see no reference to the legalization of marijuana...

Why blame the bar?
People need to have personal responsibility.

You know kid, it kinda comes off as low-class to drag your soap box to an article about a person dying after they had been drinking just so you can stump some more for the legalization of pot.

They should find out where this young man last drank at and SHUT THE PLACE DOWN! The bars/bartenders need to be held accountable.

the eviler of two evils...