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"Although a number of fellow partygoers told investigators they thought the couple was intoxicated, Karen Sylvestre said she and her husband had not been drinking before boarding the ship and eating dinner."
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"In December 2007, Mrs. Sylvestre filed a civil suit as the administrator of her husband's estate, claiming the Winnipesaukee Flagship Company had a duty to exercise care in the maintenance and operation of the ship and that the corporation had a duty "not to serve alcoholic beverages to an already intoxicated person."
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Seems rather odd to me that she would file a suit claiming that the served alcohol to an already intoxicated person when she also claims that they had not been drinking prior to the cruise. With the length of the cruise and the time it takes for the effects to set in, does it make sense that everything served to him put him on the boat put him that far over or was he already well on his way to being drunk? Was it the mixture with the prescription meds that did it? If he had been drinking before the cruise and they served him 4, he may or may not have been visibly drunk. Having only consumed on the boat, having 4 drinks he may not have appeared drunk at all which is why he would receive 4 drinks. Also, who is to say that they were all served by the same bartender? An old trick from the days of being 21 was when in a club to get your drinks from different bartenders so they could not keep track of how many you had.
I doubt highly that the staff on the Mount would purposely serve someone that wasted. Most bartenders tend to take their roles seriously and I am sure the Mount would have some set limitations.
I am sure there are enough people that indulge in a cocktail now and then on the forum. I can personally say that after 4 drinks, especially the little puny ones they usually serve, it is quite possible unless you are really a lightweight not to appear intoxicated.
Being that his wife had somewhat of a medical background, I would think that common sense would kick in at some point and say something to him about not drinking at all while taking 2 prescription meds with clear instructions not to take with alcohol.
My point is that in this case, as many others on the forum lately there has to be some level of personal responsibility involved. Drinking vodka while on prescription meds is stupid and potentially deadly (in this case, although for a different reason it was). Too many litigation-happy people and greedy lawyers to chase it...