• UGI USER
  • Jun 24, 2024
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ILLICIT LIQUOR TRAGEDY

Why in the news?

  • The recent illicit liquor tragedy in Kallakurichi, Tamil Nadu, resulted in over 50 deaths due to methanol poisoning.
  • This incident is part of a recurring pattern in India, where illicit liquor causes numerous fatalities, often linked to methanol consumption.
Source: Brainkart

Methanol Procurement and Use

  • Kallakurichi Incident: The tragedy likely involved methanol that was either improperly removed during distillation or separately added to the illicit brew.
  • Ethanol and Methanol Production: Ethanol is produced from molasses, while methanol comes from coal and fossil fuels.
  • Regulatory Controls: Both ethanol and methanol are highly regulated with strict controls on their manufacturing, transportation, and storage, especially in Tamil Nadu.
Regulation of Methanol in India

Hazardous Chemical Rules:

  • Methanol is listed in Schedule I of the Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989.

Food Safety Standards:

  • The Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018, specify the maximum permissible methanol content in various liquors.

Associated Articles:

https://universalinstitutions.com/how-dangerous-is-methanol-poisoning/