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Deaths have been attributed to methanol (methyl alcohol) poisoning from illicitly produced Hooch /Spurious liquor.
- Hooch is a commonly used term for poor quality alcohol. Sometimes, it also contains methanol, an industrial alcohol along with ethanol.
About Methanol (CH3OH)
- Also known as wood Alcohol or spirit (traditionally produced by destructive distillation of wood).
- Modern method of preparing methanol is based on syngas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide) derived from biomass or other sources.
- Characteristic:
- A colorless and fairly volatile liquid with a faintly sweet pungent odor.
- Completely mixable with water and it is an antifreeze agent.
- Applications:
- Used as solvent in paints, varnishes, and chiefly for making formaldehyde.
- Can be used as a biodegradable energy resource.
- Impacts: Ingestion of even small quantities of methanol can cause blindness and large quantities cause even death.
Regulatory Framework
- Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations 2018 stipulate maximum permissible quantities of methanol in liquors.
- Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules 1989, included in Schedule 1.
- Many States/UTs have prohibited sale of alcoholic drinks (including methyl alcohol). E.g. Bihar, Gujarat, etc.
Way forward
- Strong central legislation
- Tighten the inter-State methanol supply chain under various laws such as Poisons Act, 1919.
Ethanol (C2H5OH)
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