The shock of October 16, 2024, hasn't really worn off for a lot of people. When the news broke that Liam Payne, the former One Direction star who basically soundtracked an entire generation's teenage years, had fallen from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, the world stopped.
It was messy. It was tragic. And almost immediately, the questions started swirling.
Was he alone? Was it an accident? Specifically, was Liam Payne drunk when he died?
Gossip sites moved fast, but the legal process in Argentina moved slower. Now that the forensic dust has settled and the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office has spoken, we have a much clearer, albeit heartbreaking, picture of what was happening in that hotel room.
The short answer: It wasn't just alcohol
To put it bluntly, yes, Liam Payne had alcohol in his system. But focusing only on whether he was "drunk" ignores the much more complex—and dangerous—cocktail of substances that investigators eventually found.
According to the final toxicology reports released by Argentinian authorities, Payne’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was approximately 2.7 grams per liter.
To give you some perspective, that’s more than three times the legal driving limit in the UK or the US. At that level, most people aren't just "tipsy." They are experiencing severe impairment, significant confusion, and likely a loss of motor control.
But the alcohol was only one piece of a very dark puzzle.
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What was really in his system?
When the preliminary reports first leaked, everyone started talking about "pink cocaine." It’s a flashy, terrifying name for a designer drug (often called Tusi) that usually contains a mix of ketamine, MDMA, and methamphetamine.
While that made for big headlines, the official completed toxicology results—which analyzed blood, urine, and even the vitreous humor of the eye—confirmed a broader range of substances.
In the 72 hours leading up to his death, Payne had traces of:
- Alcohol (at that 0.27% level)
- Cocaine (and its metabolites)
- Benzodiazepines (specifically Clonazepam, often used for panic attacks)
- Sertraline (an antidepressant)
Investigators also found drug paraphernalia in the room, including an improvised aluminum pipe. The hotel manager’s 911 call, which has since been made public, described a guest who was "overwhelmed by drugs and alcohol" and was "breaking everything in the room."
The "Not Fully Conscious" Finding
This is the part that hits the hardest.
The prosecutors concluded that Payne was not fully conscious or was experiencing a state of "noticeable decrease or loss of consciousness" at the precise moment he fell. This is a technical way of saying he didn't know what was happening.
The way he fell—without attempting to protect himself or "break" the fall with his hands—suggested to forensic experts that he was likely in a state of semi or total unconsciousness.
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It turns a "reckless" moment into something far more tragic. He wasn't just a guy who had too many drinks; he was a person in the middle of a profound substance-induced breakdown.
The hotel room and the final hours
The scene at the CasaSur Palermo was chaotic. Photos leaked to the press showed a smashed television screen, white powder on a desk, and a half-drunk glass of champagne.
But the investigation went deeper than just looking at the room.
Authorities interviewed hotel staff and two women who had been in the room with Payne earlier that afternoon. They eventually charged three people in connection with the death:
- A person who accompanied Liam on a daily basis (charged with abandonment of a person followed by death).
- A hotel employee.
- A third person alleged to be a drug supplier.
These charges highlight that this wasn't just a solo "party" gone wrong. It was a failure of the systems and people around him.
Dealing with the "Sober" Narrative
One of the reasons fans were so blindsided was that Liam had been vocal about his sobriety journey. In 2023, he posted a video saying he was over 100 days sober. He talked about how much better he felt.
Honestly, that’s the reality of addiction. It’s not a straight line.
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Friends mentioned he was in Buenos Aires to renew his US visa, a process that was taking longer because of his history with substance abuse. He had even reportedly passed a drug test at the embassy just days before the incident. This makes the final toxicology report even more jarring.
It’s a reminder that relapse can be sudden, intense, and—in this case—fatal.
What we can learn from this
Looking at the toxicology of a celebrity shouldn't just be about morbid curiosity. It’s a case study in how "pink cocaine" and polydrug use (mixing uppers like cocaine with downers like alcohol and benzos) can create a psychotic or hallucinogenic state.
If you or someone you know is struggling, these are the signs of a substance-induced crisis that the hotel staff witnessed:
- Extreme aggression or "breaking things."
- Paranoid behavior.
- Inability to stay conscious or stable on one's feet.
In these moments, medical intervention is the only thing that matters.
Liam Payne's death was caused by "multiple trauma" and internal/external bleeding from the fall, but the path to that balcony was paved by a lethal combination of substances. Understanding that he was in a state of diminished consciousness doesn't change the outcome, but it does change the story from one of "partying" to one of a mental and physical health emergency.
Resources for Help
If you're dealing with similar struggles, you don't have to navigate it alone.
- SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or NA: Local meetings are available globally for immediate peer support.
Check in on your friends who seem like they're "managing" but might be struggling behind closed doors. Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint.