When travelling to other countries particularly those in the developing world we need to be careful about the drinks we consume especially alcoholic drinks. This is because yet another toxic alcohol incident has taken place in India this time claiming the lives of at least 42 people.

At least 42 people have died in hospitals over the course of about 3 days, after drinking toxic bootleg liquor in northern India.

Police in India have so far arrested 32 people for illegally brewing and selling the toxic drinks to poor villagers who were celebrating a Hindu festival “Dussehr”. In India where there is widespread poverty many people cannot afford legal alcohol, so unscrupulous people make alcohol at home using dangerous chemicals which are fatal when consumed by humans. The alcohol is cheaply made and sold for as little as 10 rupees, making it irresistible to the poverty stricken people of the area who arent aware of the risks.

Illicit liquor is often spiked with chemicals such as pesticides to increase potency and is laced with deadly methanol. As is often the case with toxic alcohol many victims went blind, this is often one of the first signs of alcohol poisoning, victims seldom survive after drinking this deadly homemade concoction.