Good deeds as an alternative to biemination

Instead of „neknominate“: Doing good deeds

09/02/2014

For weeks, the new trend excited „neknominate“ on Facebook more and more, especially young people. Not all find the questionable drinking game harmless, but see it, among other health hazards. Socially engaged students have now started an alternative.

Questionable drinking game
More and more people are enjoying the new trend „neknominate“ on Facebook. In the questionable drinking game, the participants film as they drink a pint of beer on ex and then nominate three friends who have to do the same. Those who refuse should pay for a box of beer according to the rules. The trend has begun under names like „Neknomination“ or „Social Beer Game“ is known, probably in Australia, and has spread rapidly from there to Germany.

Minister calls for action from Facebook
After it became known that the „game“ already led to deaths, the discussion has intensified. In Ireland, authorities are already warning about drinking games in the network and calling on Facebook to take action. To the dpa news agency, Irish Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte said: „It must be possible for a highly profitable and internationally active company like Facebook to develop a method that highlights the dangers of "neknominations" for users.“

Good deeds instead of alcohol
In a completely different way, a group of socially committed Austrian students try to resist the dubious drinking game. At her initiative „Change nomination“ Instead of alcohol, the good purpose stands in the foreground. The goal is to do good deeds and make the world a little better. The principle is the same as with „neknominate“: You film yourself in a good deed, such as donating food or clothes, put the video online and ask three friends to do the same within 48 hours. This social engagement triggered a chain reaction and meanwhile users from countries like Germany, Japan, Australia or South Africa have sent short clips to the initiative.

Alcohol endangers the health
Alcohol and the call to consume it is by no means harmless. In Germany, about 9.5 million people consume alcohol in a risky state and about 1.3 million people are considered to be dependent on alcohol, as can be seen from the Federal Government's Drug Report for 2013. In Germany alone, 74,000 people die each year from the direct and indirect consequences of their alcohol abuse. Among the most common - caused by chronic - alcohol consumption diseases include cirrhosis of the liver, damage to the brain as well as heart muscle and cancer diseases such as liver cancer or esophageal cancer. (Ad)