Role of alcohol explored in blizzard death

The P.E.I. Liquor Commission and RCMP are looking into the availability of alcohol at a New Year's Eve party attended by a teenager who died in a blizzard after he left the event.

'When I went up, it was $5 a drink.' — Aaron Whiteway

Kyle Bambrick, an 18-year-old from Charlottetown, left the party at the clubhouse of Dog River Golf Links in Clyde River just west of the city at 3 a.m. during a blizzard that lasted all day, leaving 45 centimetres of snow. Bambrick's body was not found until Sunday.

Friends say Bambrick had had a few drinks at his apartment before heading to the Dog River Club at around 11 p.m. where there were about three dozen people. Some of them told CBC News it cost $5 to get in, that many people had brought their own liquor and some of them were underage.

The club has a year-round liquor licence, and two people who attended the party told CBC News that alcohol was being sold during the party.

"When I went up it was $5 a drink, and then I think I paid $6 for a fancier drink," said 19-year-old Aaron Whiteway.

Some deny bar was open

A second witness backs up Whiteway, although many of the other partygoers denied any alcohol was being sold.

RCMP are investigating the liquor availability because, "It's important for family closure. It's important for the integrity of the investigation," said RCMP Sgt. Denis Morin.

"We want to make sure all the questions are being answered right now so that we can put this matter to rest."

It's not clear how much alcohol Bambrick drank that night or where he got it. Friends said he didn't take any alcohol with him to the party.

On Sunday, CBC News contacted Ozzie MacEachern, part-owner of Dog River Golf Links. He said he was too upset to talk and hung up. He did not return a message left Monday.