A troubling rise in deaths caused by tainted alcohol has raised alarm worldwide. Recent cases of methanol poisoning, including the tragic deaths of a couple in Vietnam last month, underline the hidden dangers of counterfeit and unregulated alcoholic beverages. The victims, who consumed homemade limoncello, were the latest in a series of such incidents.
Only months prior, six tourists in Laos, including an American, lost their lives due to methanol-contaminated alcohol. This issue extends far beyond these regions, with similar incidents reported globally, from Africa to South America. The World Health Organization has documented fatality rates exceeding 30% during some methanol poisoning outbreaks, turning this into a global crisis.
Methanol, an industrial-grade chemical used in products like antifreeze, is often illegally added to counterfeit alcohol to mimic authentic beverages and increase potency. Consuming even small quantities can result in serious illness or death, with symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and respiratory failure. Many victims unknowingly consume these lethal drinks, believing them to be safe.
These tragic incidents serve as powerful evidence of the unpredictable and catastrophic risks posed by alcohol consumption, particularly in unregulated settings. The growing prevalence of tainted alcohol further highlights the urgent need to reconsider the societal norms surrounding alcohol and its inherent dangers.
Source: People
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