Murugan was treated after drinking from the same batch of alcohol. “I owe my survival to the doctors. I never thought I would make it. I was unconscious and terrified of dying,” he says.
Satya and Murugan are among 219 people hospitalized in June in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, after consuming alcohol mixed with methanol.
At least 57 people died after consuming the illegal drink.
“I have been drinking alcohol for 20 years. Every day in the hospital felt like a year. I will definitely never drink again,” Murugan told the BBC Tamil Service.
Like other victims around the world, those hospitalized in Tamil Nadu did not suspect they were drinking poison.
Nearly 900 people die every year in Russia from drinking illegal alcoholaccording to the country’s National Union of Consumer Rights.
In the case of Latin America, there is no precise data on deaths from adulterated alcohol at the regional level.
But numerous cases of deaths from illegal alcohol can be found in reports in the local press.
One case cited by the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) Regional Report on Alcohol and Health in the Americas in 2020 is that of the Dominican Republic, where in 2018-2019 local newspapers reported 10 deaths of tourists allegedly related to contaminated alcohol.
Another example not included in the report, but reported by the Mexican press, is that of more than 40 people who died in May 2020 in different municipalities of the state of Puebla from drinking adulterated alcohol.
Methanol
Many deaths from illegal alcohol are related to methanol or methyl alcohol, a common compound in illegal alcohol products.
Methanol is produced during the production of the beverage and is concentrated through the distillation process.
Commercial manufacturers reduce it to levels safe for human consumption.
But Illegal liquor makers often add industrial methanol (found in paints and varnishes) to fortify cheap, homemade beers..
According to the Methanol Poisoning Initiative (MPI), 60 methanol-related incidents were reported worldwide in 2023, resulting in 309 deaths.
The initiative, promoted by the University of Oslo and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), highlights that most poisoning incidents are reported in Asian countries.
It is not known exactly how many people die from methanol poisoning in Latin America.
“The lack of robust epidemiological surveillance systems in the region makes it difficult to accurately monitor and evaluate this problem.“Mario Zapata, regional advisor on alcohol and psychoactive drugs for the Pan American Health Organization, told BBC Mundo.
What are the effects of methanol poisoning?
“Methyl alcohol, also known as industrial alcohol and used as a solvent, has serious health effects, even at low doses of consumption.“, explained Mario Zapata.
“The main damage It is produced in white organs such as the optic nerve, which can cause blindness, and in the cardiovascular system, where it can cause cardiorespiratory arrest.“,
The PAHO expert noted that “it is estimated that deaths from methanol represent less than 0.1% of all deaths attributable to alcohol.”
“While this may be a low figure, the high toxicity can trigger serious health consequences if production and consumption increase.”
According to Public Health England, Public Health EnglandIn addition to blindness and nervous system damage, ingestion or inhalation of methanol vapors can cause seizures, coma, and death.
Dr A Muthu, from the State Medical College Hospital in Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, told the BBC Tamil Service how the acid produced by methanol kills people.
“As acid builds up in the kidneys, it blocks the flow of urine, increasing the salt content and causing kidney failure.”
A global problem
Methanol poisoning disproportionately affects vulnerable populations around the world and is often underreported, warns the Methanol Poisoning Initiative.
Due to the increase in prices of branded drinks, Cheaper homemade alcohol attracts low-income people.
In India, more than 100 people died from consuming illegal alcohol in Mumbai.
In South Africa, traces of methanol were found in the bodies of 21 teenagers who died in a nightclub called Enyobeni Tavern in 2022.
In predominantly Muslim countries such as Iran and Indonesia, one of the biggest problems in preventing deaths from illegal alcohol consumption is the existence of religious taboos against alcohol consumption, experts say.
These taboos can prevent people from seeking help when they become ill for fear of being incriminated or out of shame..
Opeyemi, a Nigerian food critic, told the BBC he became seriously ill after drinking a branded whisky that turned out to be “fake” at a nightclub in Port Harcourt in the south of the country.
“It tasted weird, but if you’re partying you don’t care. I was seriously ill for five days,” he added.
Opeyemi said that after posting her case on social media, many people shared similar experiences related to counterfeit alcohol, which “has gotten out of control” in many cities in Nigeria.
But richer countries have criminals who operate in the same way.
Greece
Hannah Powell vomited and felt exhausted after a night out with friends at a bar in Zakynthos, Greece, in August 2016.
But it wasn’t a hangover.
The 23-year-old had unwittingly drunk vodka mixed with methanol. The illegal alcohol caused her kidneys to fail and she went blind.
“Apparently mafia gangs make it in the forest and sell it cheaply to bars, which stock it with these drinks,” Powell told BBC Newsbeat in 2019.
“I got up to turn on the light. It was then that I panicked because I realized the light was on and I couldn’t see anything.“.
The case of Russia
Counterfeit vodka can sometimes be found in grocery stores in Russia. It is estimated that almost half of the alcohol sold in supermarkets until the mid-2000s was counterfeit..
In 2023, 30 people died in different regions of Russia after consuming an alcoholic beverage called “Mister Cider”, which was legally sold in supermarkets.
Earlier this year the Russian government tightened licensing rules for alcohol manufacturers to ensure that only established producers can apply for them.
How to know if an alcoholic drink is toxic?
You could fall victim to illegal alcohol sellers no matter what country you are in.
Interpol, the international police agency, advises buying from trusted suppliers.
“If the product is sold well below its normal price, or does not appear to include normal alcohol taxes, then it is probably counterfeit.“, Interpol said.
The agency warns of other telltale signs: “Check for poor quality packaging, spelling mistakes or unusual bottle shapes.”
The police agency also advises using common sense: “Beware of bad smells! If it smells like paint remover or nail polish remover, it probably is!“.
But even more upmarket establishments may be unwittingly selling poisonous drinks.
“It is crucial that consumers be alert when purchasing alcoholic beverages from unauthorized locations, especially if the containers are not airtight or adequate and lack labels supporting their legal production,” said Mario Zapata.
PAHO expert warns that methanol is not the only cause of serious problems.
“The consumption and abuse of ethyl alcohol also has serious health problems, which is why reducing its consumption or abstaining completely is a healthy decision.”
What is the difference between methanol and ethanol?
Ethanol and methanol are types of alcohol used as fuel and solvents.
Ethanol, which is an expensive chemical, is also found in alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine.
Alcohol consumption can cause headaches and nausea, but the effects are temporary.
However, methanol, which has a slightly alcoholic smell and is relatively cheap, is highly toxic and unfit for consumption.
Historically, this antifreeze chemical was distilled from wood and is also known as wood alcohol.
The danger of alcohol, even if it is not adulterated
Mario Zapata told BBC Mundo that PAHO’s technical cooperation in Latin America is not focused only on methanol, but is “focused on reducing alcohol consumption in the region and its damage.”
“In 2019, approximately 2.6 million people died worldwide due to alcohol consumption“.
According to WHO, the highest rates of alcohol-related deaths per 100,000 people were recorded in the European and African regions, with 52.9 and 52.2 deaths respectively.
“In the Americas region, the rate was 32.7 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. The main types of alcohol-attributable deaths in this region include cancer, self-harm, interpersonal violence and digestive disorders.”
“The best investments recommended by PAHO/WHO—taxes on alcohol consumption, comprehensive marketing restrictions, and limited retail hours of alcohol sales—are powerful prevention tools that are underutilized in the Americas,” Zapata said.
Story compiled by the BBC World Service with contributions from BBC News Tamil, BBC News Asia, BBC News World, BBC News Persian, BBC News Africa, BBC News Russia, BBC Newsbeat and BBC News Online.
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