On June 20th, 2024, a batch of toxic illegal alcohol in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu has killed at least 34 people, with more than 100 others rushed to the hospital. The deadly mix of locally brewed arrack drink was laced with poisonous methanol, according to state officials.
The tainted alcohol caused blindness, liver damage, and death in the affected individuals. Authorities have made arrests in connection with the incident, highlighting the ongoing issue of counterfeit and dangerous liquor in parts of India.
This is not an isolated occurrence - hundreds of people die every year in India from cheap alcohol made in unlicensed backstreet distilleries. To increase the potency, the liquor is often spiked with methanol, a highly toxic substance.
Last year, poisonous alcohol killed at least 27 people in one sitting in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. In 2022, at least 42 people died in Gujarat due to contaminated moonshine. The thriving black market for potent and sometimes lethal backstreet liquor is driven by the prohibition of alcohol sales in several parts of the country.
Authorities in Tamil Nadu, where the latest tragedy occurred, are working to crack down on the illicit alcohol trade and hold those responsible accountable. However, the persistent issue underscores the need for greater regulation and safer alternatives to address the demand for affordable alcohol in India.
印度數十人飲用受污染酒精中毒身亡
2024年6月20日, 印度泰米爾納德邦一批有毒非法酒精導致至少34人死亡,超過100人被緊急送院。當地官員表示,這種由黑市釀製的棕櫚酒(arrack)被添加了有毒的甲醇。
這些受污染的酒精引致中毒者失明、肝臟受損及死亡。當局已經逮捕了部分嫌疑人,但揭示了印度部分地區假劣酒精氾濫的持續問題。
這並非個別事件,每年都有數以百計的印度人因為在地下作坊製造的劣質酒精而喪生。為了提高酒精濃度,這些酒精常常會被非法添加甲醇等高毒性物質。
去年,在東部邦加爾邦至少27人一次中毒身亡,2022年古吉拉特邦則有最少42人死於劣質燒酒。多個邦禁止售賣酒精,刺激了黑市高度濃烈且時常致命的地下酒精交易。
泰米爾納德邦當局正在打擊這個非法酒精交易,並追究責任人。然而,這個持續問題凸顯了印度需要加強管控,提供更安全的平價酒精選擇,以解決民眾對酒精的需求。
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