You can buy alcohol as 16 years old legally here, and we do have a rotten alcohol culture.
It is unhealthy at many levels especially as a teenagers.
But they should also understand it can be dangerous when they drink it fast and the combination of alcohol and cold can easily be lethal.
I would praise any kid that contacted me in this situation (I have tried it once with my youngest years ago) it is good that they did call for help when they got worried.