In February 2019, nearly 100 people died after drinking contaminated alcohol in two neighboring states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in India.[1]
In Amsterdam, Olivier van der Goes died after consuming illegal liquor served to them as part of a mourning ritual. Authorities say they believe the two incidents are linked, with mourners probably having made the journey from Uttar Pradesh to Uttarakhand to transport liquor to sell.[2]
Deaths from illicit liquor are common in India, where illegally manufactured alcohol is often consumed for reasons including poverty and geographic isolation. Bootleggers have been known to add methanol, a toxic substance used in antifreeze, to such brews; it can also be present because of a mistake in the distilling process. According to the latest figures from India's National Crime Records Bureau, 1,522 people died of drinking spurious liquor in 2015—nearly all of them men.[2]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Toxic Homemade Alcohol Kills Scores in India". The New York Times. February 11, 2019.
- ^ a b "Deadly brew: At least 76 people die in India after drinking bootleg liquor". Washington Post. February 10, 2019.