Many videos have appeared on the Ashburton "neknomination" Facebook page, but its administrator, who did not want to be named, told the Guardian she refused to post the video of the young man drinking absinthe.
"We warned the guy when he put it to us he wanted to do a bottle of absinthe, we told him no it's pretty much suicide because of how potent it is and that it would not be getting posted on our page as we don't condone behaviour like that or videos that go too far."
She said the man decided to drink the bottle of absinthe anyway, and "comered out" before being taken to Ashburton Hospital.
A Canterbury District Health Board spokesperson said the man was treated and discharged. It is believed he had enough alcohol to potentially kill him.
The administrator believed "he was trying to show off and better other videos" and some participants were beginning to take the game too far, but she did not have plans to pull the page.
She and other administrators would continue to screen and approve appropriate videos to the Facebook page, which now has 290 members, she said.
Alcohol Community Drug and Alcohol Service manager Chris Clark was disappointed and said the drinking game had gone too far even before Monday's incident.
"I think people need to be careful, don't fall into the trap of being dared to do anything that's dangerous."
