Drinking the Kool-Aid

I'm not sure I understand why this is even considered news:

Friday, September 21, 2007

MANOR

Kool-Aid causes stir at school

Authorities evaluated 11 Manor Middle School students Thursday after they said the students ingested a mixture of Kool-Aid concentrate, water and sugar.

School and EMS officials initially thought the substance could have contained a prescription drug, but tests later showed that the material contained no drugs, said Warren Hassinger, a spokesman for Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services.

Hassinger said paramedics conducted a field test on the substance, which indicated that it contained prescription medication. However, he said, tests by the Department of Public Safety disproved that theory.

None of the students showed symptoms of a drug overdose, but they were taken to Dell Children's Medical Center, Hassinger said. The students were all sixth-grade girls, officials said. School officials called paramedics about 1:30 p.m. after at least one of the students began telling staff members that she and others had eaten the substance.

A quick visit to the Kool-Aid Man's House did not tell me much about the dangers of mixing Kool-Aid mix and sugar, although I did learn that there are many varieties of sugar-free Kool-Aid available. While it has other uses besides drinking and mass murder/suicide, I'm not sure I get what the big deal was. Is there now zero tolerance for sugar? Anyway, here's a Family Guy clip: