AT LEAST six people have died and dozens more are fighting for their lives after drinking ‘tainted’ drink laced with toxic chemicals at a holiday hotspot.
The victims allegedly bought moonshine mixed with methanol and isopropanol from street stalls in Bangkok, Thailand.
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Six people have died and dozens more are fighting for their lives after drinking a ‘tainted’ drink in Bangkok, ThailandCredit: Alamy
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Police said they also arrested two brothers who allegedly confessed to diluting the moonshine Credit: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress
Soon after, they began to suffer from dizziness, difficulty breathing and vomiting – telltale symptoms of alcohol poisoning.
At least six people died after drinking the drink, reports the Bangkok Post.
In addition, at least 37 people between the ages of 22 and 69 were kept in the hospital on life support.
Fifteen of the injured were put on ventilators to help them breathe, 22 needed kidney dialysis, and 21 had blurred vision, said Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin.
Authorities discovered the source of the ‘rot’ in the home of a woman named Phatrasa in the Saphan Sung district of the Thai capital.
‘Rotgut’ is a nickname often used to describe a drink of very poor quality, usually referring to a cheap, pungent and potentially harmful drink.
Phatrasa claimed that she and her family had been selling the herbal liquor for decades without any problems following the recipe developed by her late father.
She said that the recipe used only natural ingredients and did not contain methyl alcohol.
Speaking at a police press conference on August 26, she said she was “very sorry” and “didn’t mean to kill anyone”.
She explained: “A year ago I hired two men, who were brothers, to make rice whiskey for me.
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“The batches they made tasted normal, so I kept ordering from them.
“However, last week my customers reported that the taste of the liquor had changed.
“They said it tasted weaker and more fizzy and seemed to have a lower alcohol content.
“I called the brothers to ask if they had changed the ingredients, but they refused to tell me, they just said they improved it.
“When I tried the last amount of drink, I had a little diarrhea, but it was not serious.
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The drink was spiked with methanol and isopropanol – both poisonous Credit: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress
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Authorities discovered the source of the rot in a house in the Saphan Sung district of the Thai capital. Credit: Asia Pacific Press via ViralPress
“Later I found out that someone had died drinking it and I was very shocked.
“I couldn’t believe it could happen. I didn’t understand how this could happen because I had been doing it for a long time.
“I felt guilty and sorry. I didn’t want to kill anyone. I want to help the victims because one of the deceased was my friend.”
Police said they also arrested brothers, Surasak Insam, 46, and Surachai Insam, 44, who allegedly admitted to diluting the moonshine with ethyl alcohol “to reduce the volume of alcohol.”
However, they claimed they had no idea how the batch sold to Phatrasa ended up containing methyl alcohol.
Police Major General Kiatikul Sonthinen, commander of Division Three of the Metropolitan Police, said: “Phatrasa will be charged with recklessly causing death and grievous bodily harm to others, and violating the Excise Act by producing and selling alcoholic beverages without a permit.”
Police were also investigating the owner of a factory in Samut Prakan province who allegedly sold a large amount of chemicals to the Insam brothers.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration urged those who consumed moonshine from any of the 18 announced locations to see a doctor immediately without fear of arrest.
Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is a simple type of alcohol used as an industrial solvent, antifreeze and fuel.
It is very toxic if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
Isopropanol or isopropyl alcohol is a colorless, flammable chemical compound commonly used as a disinfectant, antiseptic, and solvent.
It is widely used in households and medical facilities for cleaning and disinfection, but can be toxic if ingested in large quantities.
Is moonlight dangerous?
Yes, moonshine or strong, domestic alcoholic beverages – they are dangerous.
Without proper training and licenses, people trying to make and distill their own alcoholic beverages are unaware of the proper use of its primary ingredient – ethanol.
People can get seriously ill, go blind or even die from a poorly made alcoholic drink.
The distillation process is a dangerous practice if done improperly.
Not only can amateur distillers accidentally poison people, but distillers are also highly explosive.
It has been documented that the frequency of impure moonshine significantly increases the risk of kidney disease among those who regularly consume it, primarily due to the increased lead content.
Outbreaks of methanol poisoning have occurred when methanol was accidentally produced in the production of moonshine or was used to adulterate moonshine.
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Source: HIS Education