On December 26, during a birthday celebration in Chanthaburi province, 21-year-old influencer Thanakarn Kanthee died after participating in a whisky drinking challenge, as reported by Republic World.
The party organizer, Ekkachart "Em" Meephrom, allegedly proposed the challenge, offering Thanakarn 30,000 baht (approximately 840 euros) to drink a 350-milliliter bottle of whisky in one go. According to La Vanguardia, Meephrom is the main suspect in the investigation. He surrendered to the authorities recently. He has been charged with causing death through negligence and is currently in preventive detention after the court denied him bail. Meephrom faces a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison or a fine of approximately 200,000 baht (about 5,600 euros).
During the event, attendees encouraged and recorded Thanakarn as he consumed the whisky. A video circulating on social media shows Thanakarn drinking directly from the bottle in a matter of seconds while a crowd gathered around him, cheering and filming, underscoring the peer pressure involved in the challenge, as noted by SKAI.
Shortly after completing the challenge, Thanakarn began to feel unwell. Witnesses saw him vomiting fainting. According to El Heraldo, some attendees laughed and watched as paramedics transported the unconscious Thanakarn to the ambulance. Despite being rushed to a local hospital in Chonburi, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival due to severe alcohol poisoning, reported Clarín.
Known online as "Bank Leicester," Thanakarn was recognized for participating in extreme challenges for money to support his financially struggling family. He had accumulated thousands of followers due to his risky feats, which included consuming large quantities of wasabi and drinking lubricant gel, as reported by BFMTV.
At the age of seven, he began selling garlands at a flea market to support himself and his grandmother, who had raised him since he was two months old. SKAI noted that his parents separated when he was an infant, and he lived with his grandmother, who suffers from diabetes and hypertension.
Messages of sorrow and support have flooded Thanakarn's social media accounts. Clarín reported comments from his followers, such as: "Rest in peace, Bank. I hope you get justice."
"The person who made you drink alcohol must be punished forever," another commenter wrote.
Prominent influencer Guntouch Pongpaiboonwet, known on social media as Gun Jompalang, has offered to assist Thanakarn's family in taking action against those responsible for the challenge.
"I had no idea that my grandson was being bullied while receiving money. If I had known, I would never have allowed it," said Thanakarn's grandmother, according to Chosun Ilbo.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.