A FATHER whose son drank himself to death at a New Year's Eve party has warned other young people about the dangers of binge drinking.

His son, Matthew Loveday, 19, collapsed after drinking games at a party last December 31 at his rented house, an inquest heard.

Friends of the former Evening Advertiser newspaper boy carried him upstairs to bed, spraying him with shaving foam and cat litter.

But moments later the jovial mood changed when the revellers realised their friend was dead.

Yesterday, Milton Keynes coroner Rodney Corner returned a verdict of accidental death.

Matthew's father Clive, 48, a postman of Hythe Road, Swindon, said after the hearing: "Our son was enjoying himself like thousands of others on New Year's Eve.

"I think the majority of people enjoy alcohol in one way or another but it seems quite obvious now that if consumed in large quantities it can and will have tragic consequences."

He added: "I think Matthew was a victim of the binge-drinking culture in this country."

Cause of death was given as respiratory depression brought on by excessive alcohol intake.

Tests showed Mr Loveday, a former Commonweal School pupil, was five times the driving limit, 404 milligrams per 100mls of blood, a "fatal level", the coroner said.

Before the party, at 6pm, Mr Loveday was telephoned by his mother Jennifer who wished him a Happy New Year but said: "Don't drink too much will you?"

Her son replied: "No mum, I won't."

But at 9.50pm her son had collapsed. Shortly after that he died.

During a drinking game in which the Dirty Dancing film tune Hungry Eyes was played, Mr Loveday downed a shot of Ouzo every time the word "hungry" was sung, the inquest heard.

He had more than 20 shots during the song before downing the rest of the bottle afterwards.

Mr Loveday, a stock controller at a local retail store, moved to Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, last July following a falling out with his parents over his drinking, the hearing was told.

He would not drink during the week but would get very drunk at weekends.

Evidence was given about the New Year's Eve party by Mr Loveday's housemates.

Friend Samantha Agnew, 18, described how he went out into the garden after the song, downed the rest of his bottle and collapsed.

He then came back in and collapsed while trying to dance, she said.

Mr Corner said many young people today habitually drink to excess without realising the possible consequences.

"It really does not need me, as coroner, to issue stern warnings about binge drinking," he said. "The facts of this case speak for themselves."

Ben Payne