UK theme park minimises alcohol related rollercoaster 'sick shutdowns'

Managers at UK theme park Thorpe Park are taking the drastic measure of breath testing young adults after a series of vomiting incidents, and subsequent ride shutdowns, on the park's rollercoasters.

Rather than eject tipsy or hungover young guests, Thorpe Park staff are instead directing those who appear over the limit to the most extreme rollercoaster - which hurtles them through the air head-first at up to 80 km/h.

Research supported by the park has found the blast of fresh air on The Swarm is exactly what queasy guests need to settle their stomachs and avoid being sick.

As a result, staff members are now be breathalysing young adults and directing those who have more than 35mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath to adrenaline-boosting rides.

The late weeks of the UK summer have seen a massive 250% increase in the number of people being sick on Thorpe Park's rides.

The move will hopefully appease families, who will no longer be forced to wait while rides are closed during clean-up operations.

Opened for Thorpe Park's 2012 season, The Swarm sends riders shooting through the air head-first down a drop of 39 metre - but has been found to be the perfect solution to settling queasy stomachs

The research, carried out by neuropsychologist Dr David Lewis, foundthe blast of oxygen on the high-speed Swarm improves drunk riders' metabolic rate, which boosts speeds at which toxins are broken down.

Thorpe Park Divisional Director Mike Vallis told UK newspaper The Daily Mail "Thorpe Park does not condone drinking and riding, however, ... we felt it was our duty to ensure that all of our guests enjoy the extreme nature of our rides and by putting them on The Swarm, which is proven to be the ultimate hangover cure.

"We are confident our guests will have a great, and hopefully vomit-free, day."

Thorpe Park is managed by Merlin Entertainments.