Seven-year-old boy found on sidewalk with alcohol poisoning - Germany

A seven-year-old boy is in critical condition after he was found on a Berlin sidewalk with extreme alcohol poisoning, the police reported on Monday.

Residents in the city's Spandau district alarmed emergency services around 6 pm on Sunday when they found the boy trembling and vomiting on the Schönwalder Straße sidewalk, police said.

He had a blood alcohol level of 0.2 percent, or 2 promille, and remains hospitalised in intensive care.

Initial investigation has revealed that the child drank alcohol at a playground with his nine-year-old brother after acquiring the beverages from other youths there.

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Ok, my first question on this is where are the parents??? Maybe I was raised differently than the rest of the world, or maybe my parents were just over protective, but I know at 7 years old I was not allowed to go to the park on my own, even though it was just around the corner, and having my brother with me was no exception. On top of it all, at 6pm, its dark now....I had the rule you better be on our property before the street lights come on....I don't know....once again I'm just disturbed...

Americangirl, here in Berlin it is quite common to see kids running around the streets by themselves, as they don't have yards of their own to play in, and maybe just a Hinterhof where they are not allowed to make a lot of noise. I see kids all the time, kicking their soccer ball around on the sidewalk, going off to the grocery store by themselves (as young as 5 and 6) and generally entertaining themselves without adult supervision.

At 7 I was allowed to go to the park by myself, but it was across the street and fully visible from our house, and we lived in a very very very residential neighborhood. Plus the street was broad and long, you couldn't just snatch up a child and duck around the corner with him--you would definitely be seen.

I guess that's just life here, but I, like you, always raise an eyebrow when I see kids kicking cans around or pretend karate-ing or playing soccer in the middle of the street, where there is tons of traffic and drunken grownups, especially after dark. Crazy.

7? that's 2nd year of primary school, have been walking to school and was most of the time without my parents at the playground (had to be home before it gets dark though) I would guess that's rather common?! I mean it's not like you're by yourself, there are usually other parents around as well.

There is something seriously wrong when a 7 year old drinks any alcohol though

Good Lord...I hope he is ok though...he has his older brother to blame for this, parents can do everything for their kids but sometimes you just turn your back and some thing bad happens. Very sad tho!!

His 9 year old older brother should also have been at home at 6pm on a dark winters evening, not hanging out in the park.

What is the area like where this happened? I do not know Spandau very well...

I'm getting a neg. vote for wondering where the parents were and thinking that it is wrong for a 7 year old to be on the streets after dark, and drunk....ok then....

There were quite a few American children in my daughter's class. It was noticeable that the American parents were much more protective of their children. Don't get me wrong, I am certainly not knocking it.

I remember arranging to go to a museum with a mother after class. She was a little bit late so I suggested that we just walk out towards the exit and wait for the mother there. The child said that she had been told that she was not allowed to leave the school with anyone - so we had to wait inside. I was impressed that she had the self-assurance to say no to me. Also that she listened to her parents.

There were other similar incidents - to a lesser degree. American parents were just that little bit more careful - and rightly so.
I am only saying this because this loosening of the reins may seem strange to those who did not experience it.

You will find German (and other) kids alone on the streets after it is dark.

Yes, there is a reason to be protective of one's children. How much can one be, though? That is the most difficult question for a parent, I think.

Oh, and my comment to this story. It is horrific.

I do remember though, having some neighbour kids over and all of us raiding my father's drinks cupboard (we were probably 10-ish) and taking swigs of his vodka and filling it up with water, to hide the crime .. *cough cough* I don't think any of us actually got drunk (maybe the swigs were only sips). That is what (some) children do.

Back in my childhood, you could buy single cigarettes. We used to buy some and smoke behind the garage. Now that I think of it, why on earth did they sell the fags to us? We were about 8 or 9 !!! (first the fags then the booze - story of my childhood (NOT )!!!)

I do hope this child recovers without too much harm.

Edit:

A greenie from me, because I understand what you mean!!!

8 posts in and not a single Michael Jackson gag in sight.

Maybe thats the reason why American children choose guns once they grow up. To overcome the insecurity as they cannot forever be protected by their parents. Just a thought.

I've never owned a gun and I'm American. Though my mom does roll in my posse.

I saw nothing about this story on Toytown I wonder if it is real?

So why don't german kids buy machine guns considering they're routinely coddled at home well into their late twenties?

Edit: Oh, wait, they already tried that.

Nope for all the brits who come over to the states , open ex-pat English pubs, sell strongbow and Guiness beer , show football at 9am, and roll out at 11 am all pissed ready for a fight. Granted we are of the same demeanor but more PM type of people when this occurs.

Everybody is paranoid about kidnapping here. Did you read about the girl of about the same age who was just killed and dumped in the trash in Florida? She had been walking home from school with her older sister.

@ bohemka, LOL!!

I was walking to & from school (often alone, as my brothers ditched me regularly) starting at the age of 5, and we were out on the streets until/ past dark, every day, sans adults. Different times, I guess. Oh, and yes long-haul, we had guns and regular target practice in the backyard. No booze at our house, though!