Although intentional ingestion of alcohol-based hospital cleansing agents by vulnerable adults has been well reported, there have been few reports of intentional ingestion by children. This case report concerns an 11-year-old boy who was disruptive in an admission unit and became very distressed in the anaesthetic area before a minor surgical procedure. His blood alcohol level, measured before induction of anaesthesia, showed 160mg/dl. Alcohol-based hand gels are a potential hazard for children in the healthcare setting and other places where they are in use. Nurses and other staff working with children should familiarise themselves with the risks and with the evidence relating to the management of such risks in young people