Tears flow as teen drinking victim farewelled

James Webster. Photo / Supplied

The tears flowed as family and friends this afternoon farewelled 16-year-old Auckland secondary school student James Webster who died after drinking a bottle of vodka he took to a party last weekend.

In a highly charged and emotional funeral service at the school where he boarded, King's College in Otahuhu, hundreds of mourners said goodbye to the teenager who was said to be liked by everybody.

"He was just a really good guy, just one of those people you meet and can't help but like him," one of his friends said.

The teenager died in his sleep after drinking the best part of a bottle of vodka outside a party and collapsing unconscious an hour later.

His death has re-ignited a nationwide debate over the culture of drinking which many people said desperately needed to change.

It also fuelled the debate for tougher laws on access to alcohol for young people.

At the funeral, distraught friends and family representatives delivered tributes to James.

- NZPA