Toxic Alcohol Claims Lives of at Least 54 People in India; How Dangerous Is Methanol, Illicit Liquor?

Officials have revealed that at least 54 individuals have passed away in Tamil Nadu after drinking toxic bootleg alcohol.

This happened in Kallakurichi district. Several residents were observed to go ill after they drank the alcohol last Tuesday night.

At Least 54 Die Due to Toxic Alcohol

On top of this, over 100 people are still in the hospital to receive treatment. Since Wednesday, almost 200 people have received treatment due to stomach aches, vomiting, and diarrhea.

These symptoms surfaced after the individuals drank alcohol containing methanol.

According to senior district official M.S. Prasanth, law enforcement authorities have arrested seven people involved in the incident. They have added that further action has been taken against brewers and sellers in the area.

Prasanth also revealed that they also seized up to 200 liters of the illegal alcoholic drink.

Among the 54 people who died due to the toxic alcohol were six women and 48 men.

According to MK Stalin, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, the victims' families will receive financial compensation from the government.

Stalin has also requested a former High Court judge to delve deeper into the matter.

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Methanol and Illicit Alcohol

People tend to buy illicit alcohol, locally known as "country liquor" or "hooch," because only a few can afford branded spirits. This could then result in massive casualty incidents due to how some vendors spike their drinks with methanol to boost the potency of the liquor.

Bootleggers tend to sell massive quantities at lower rates to the poor without paying government taxes.

However, methanol is a toxic chemical typically used for industrial applications, such as fuel and paint thinners. Even in minimal doses, the chemical can result in liver damage, blindness, or death. Other adverse effects may include cancer and kidney failure.

Each year, hundreds of individuals die due to illicit alcohol consumption.

According to the Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT), roughly 947 deaths were reported in 2020 due to illicit alcohol consumption. In 2021, the recorded deaths were 782.

In 2022, at least 28 people died in the country's Gujarat state in the west, while over 30 individuals were killed in Bihar state. This came after they drank tainted alcohol with unauthorized sales.

Last year, at least 27 people died in Bihar due to illegal liquor consumption.

The report of the TRACIT also noted that sales restriction or prohibition, consumer awareness, and weak enforcement or regulation have been enabling illicit alcohol to increase in the country.

According to the Tamil Nadu government, they are searching for the individuals involved in methanol production.

The sale and consumption of liquor are not allowed in several areas across India. This drives the black market to thrive for potent, even lethal, backstreet moonshine.