Girl’s stomach removed after drinking liquid nitrogen cocktail

A teenager has had her stomach removed after drinking a cocktail containing liquid nitrogen, whilst on a night out in Lancashire, UK.

A Liquid Nitrogen cocktail, like this one,has raised questions as to whether the drinks industry should be serving dangerous chemicals to customers

The girl, 18, from Heysham, had been out drinking with friends on Thursday 4 October but had complained of breathlessness and stomach pains after drinking a cocktail containing the substance.

She was rushed to Lancashire Royal Infirmary where doctors diagnosed a perforated stomach, leaving them no option but to remove the organ.

Since then Lancashire Constabulary have launched an investigation into the incident with third party agencies, as well as the unnamed premises involved.

A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: “The investigation is still in its early stages and we are still interviewing witnesses to establish the full facts. The premises involved have fully cooperated with all agencies and have suspended drinks involving liquid nitrogen.”

Doctor John Ashton, director of public health for Cumbria, told the BBC that he felt the alcohol industry has started adopting “irresponsible” practices to stay ahead of the competition.

“This poor girl is the victim of an irresponsible alcohol industry that’s now competing on gimmicks,” he said. “Alcohol itself is a very dangerous thing if improperly handled and liquid nitrogen is a toxic chemical. It destroys human tissue.”

The use of liquid nitrogen in modern mixology has become popular thanks to high-profile supporters such as celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, food writer Harold McGee and New York bartender Eben Freeman.