A late-night drinking session between two friends in Hualien turned violent, and both men ended up in hospital — a small but ugly reminder of how fast alcohol arguments escalate.

• Two men, 35 and 36, were drinking at one of their homes when a petty argument blew up.
• The younger man swung a baseball bat; the bigger man wrested it away and beat him to the ground.
• One left with a broken right arm, the other with a head gash; neither injury was life-threatening.
• Paramedics struggled with one of the men, who was drunk and swung between demanding police act and begging them to drop it.
• Neither man has pressed charges or explained the fight, but security camera footage confirmed the brawl.

Outlook: Police are sending the case to the Hualien district court under public order laws, with the bat held as evidence.