Parents tried to teach their son a lesson. And it backfired in the most tragic way.

Teaching teenagers about the dangers of alcohol is a challenge for all parents. But this lesson ended in tragedy.

Kendal Ball, like many 16-year-olds, was curious about drinking alcohol.

He had apparently been talking about wanting to drink for three years.

Worried that Kendal might become an alcoholic like his birth father, Kendal’s mum, Paulette Richardson, and stepfather, Joseph Richardson, apparently decided to “teach him a lesson”.

Now they’re behind bars facing manslaughter charges.

The Richardsons wanted wanted to prove a point about the dangers of drinking by getting him sick, court documents allege.

Over two hours, Kendal allegedly had several shots of Fireball and Jack Daniels whiskey, before his parents put him to bed.

Mrs Richardson said Kendal gave her a thumbs up when she checked on him around 11pm, but when her husband checked on him at 3.45am, he was unresponsive.

Kendal was found dead in his home in southwest Wyoming on July 7, NY Daily News reports.

He had suffered alcohol poisoning and had a blood alcohol content reading of 0.587.

Both adults have been charged with involuntary manslaughter and remain in custody. They face up to 20 years in prison.

A friend who was at the home at the time is yet to be charged.

Uinta Country Attorney Loretta Gerrard spoke out about the dangers of the alleged acts, NY Daily News reports.

“I am not here to make parenting decisions for people,” Ms Gerrard said.

“What I hope people understand, however, is that some traditional parenting lore, wives tales or theories don’t apply in an age where we have refined products that accelerate the effect of chemicals on the human body.”

A tragic end to the life of a teenager. RIP, Kendal.