Students drank so much alcohol at college frat party that air in house registered on breathalyser, police say

One young reveller jumped from second-story window to avoid arrest, report says

University students drank so much alcohol at a fraternity party that air inside the house registered on a breathalyser, police have said.

About 70 people attended the "tequila Tuesday" party in an upscale neighbourhood of Bethesda, Maryland, before irritated residents phoned authorities.

Six alleged occupants of the rented home have been charged with allowing underage possession of alcohol and furnishing alcohol to a minor, and face fines of up to $315,000 (£235,463), WLJA reported, citing court documents.

The group, members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, are all enrolled at the private American University, the network said.

It reported that the ambient air inside the suburban house registered at 0.01 on at least one police breathalyser.

The party took place in mid-November and was brought to a swift end when three Montgomery County police officers arrived.

They reportedly discovered bin bags and insulation over the windows and empty cans and bottles throughout the house.

One partygoer was said to have jumped from a second-storey window to try and escape.