Acute alcohol poisoning
"Let them sleep it off" is the most common cause of drinking-related deaths.
Danger signs
- No response to being woken
- Slow or irregular breathing
- Cold, pale or bluish skin
- Repeated vomiting, or vomiting while unconscious
- Seizures
- Falling body temperature
Any one of these means 119 immediately.
What to do
- Call 119.
- Turn them on their side (recovery position). Keeping vomit out of the airway is the crucial part.
- Keep talking to them and watching.
- Never leave them alone.
- Cover them warmly. Being left outdoors in winter is lethal. See hypothermia.
What not to do
- Just putting them to bed — they can choke on vomit while unconscious.
- Cold water, forced vomiting
- Coffee or hangover drinks — no effect.
- Carrying them up stairs on your back — fall risk. Wait for the ambulance.
- Sending them home alone
Where to go
- 119 immediately
- 1339 Korea Disease Control Agency
- 1345 interpretation
- For recurring problems, an addiction management centre. See addiction-center.
Questions people ask
My friend is unconscious from drink. Will reporting cause trouble? No. Life comes first. The situation worsens while you hesitate.
I was pressured to drink at a work dinner. Pressure is not acceptable. See drinking-culture. If it repeats, consult 1350.
They vomited and seem a little better. Check that consciousness is clear and breathing normal. Anything odd — call 119. Keep them in the recovery position and watch.
A minor has been drinking. Even small amounts can be dangerous. If anything seems wrong, get them seen immediately.
Take care
Laying an unconscious person down to sleep and leaving is the worst choice. Always turn them on their side and stay. In winter, falling asleep outside drunk can kill through hypothermia. Never send a drunk colleague off alone.
Related
drinking-culture · hypothermia · cpr · first-aid-basics · addiction-center
Source
Ministry of Health and Welfare www.mohw.go.kr / As of 2026-08