Context:
Recently, approximately 34 people lost their lives, and around 100 others were hospitalized after consuming illicit or spurious liquor in the Kallakurichi district of Tamil Nadu.
Relevance:
GS II: Health
Dimensions of the Article:
- Understanding Hooch
- Key Facts About Methanol and its Consumption
Understanding Hooch
- Definition: Hooch refers to low-quality alcohol, originally named after the Hoochinoo, an indigenous Alaskan tribe known for making potent liquor.
- Production Conditions: It is typically made in unregulated and unhygienic environments, posing significant health risks.
- Quality Control: Due to the lack of quality control, consumers cannot accurately determine the alcohol content or detect potential contaminants.
Production Process of Hooch
- Starting Ingredients: The production begins with a sugary substance such as fruits, grains, or sugarcane.
- Fermentation: Yeast is added to ferment the sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
- Potency: Unlike beer or wine, hooch often has a higher alcohol content. Distillation is used to increase this by heating the fermented mixture.
- Evaporation and Condensation: Alcohol evaporates at a lower boiling point; the vapor is then condensed back into liquid, resulting in higher alcohol concentration.
Alcohol Content in Liquor
- Ethanol: The primary alcohol in beverages, responsible for intoxication.
- Chemical Composition: Ethanol (C2H5OH) consists of two carbon atoms, six hydrogen atoms, and one hydroxyl group (OH-).
- Alcohol Content: The alcohol content in beverages varies, with beer containing about 5% and distilled spirits like vodka and whiskey containing up to 40%.
- Metabolism: In the body, ethanol is processed by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) enzymes into acetaldehyde, which is then converted to acetate by aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) enzymes.
Spurious Liquor
- Definition: Fake or counterfeit alcohol, often produced domestically.
- Addition of Methanol: Methanol may be added to increase the alcohol’s potency or volume, which is dangerous if consumed in large quantities.
- Risks: The production of hooch poses risks due to the presence of toxic methanol alongside consumable ethanol.
Regulation
- Standards: The Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations 2018 outline the permissible limits of methanol in various liquors.
- Permissible Limits: These limits vary, with some products like coconut fenny having no permissible methanol, while country liquor can contain up to 50 grams per 100 liters, and pot-distilled spirits can have up to 300 grams per 100 liters.
Key Facts About Methanol and its Consumption
- Chemical Nature: Methanol, denoted as CH3OH, is a simple alcohol composed of one carbon atom, three hydrogen atoms, and one hydroxyl group (OH).
- Regulation: In India, methanol is classified under Schedule I of the Manufacture, Storage, and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules 1989.
- Quality Standards: Indian Standard IS 517 outlines the quality standards for methanol.
Industrial Production
- Process: Methanol is mainly produced by combining carbon monoxide and hydrogen with copper and zinc oxide catalysts at pressures between 50-100 atm and temperatures around 250°C.
- Historical Production: Historically, methanol was obtained through the destructive distillation of wood, a method known since ancient times, including ancient Egypt.
Uses
- Applications: Methanol is a crucial precursor in producing acetic acid, formaldehyde, and various aromatic hydrocarbons. It is widely used as a solvent, antifreeze, and in various industrial processes.
Effects on the Human Body
- Metabolism: When ingested, methanol is broken down into toxic byproducts, mainly formic acid. This disrupts the body’s pH balance, leading to metabolic acidosis, a condition where excess acid cannot be eliminated by the kidneys.
- Blood Acidity: The presence of formic acid makes the blood more acidic, impairing its function.
- Enzyme Interference: Formic acid interferes with the enzyme cytochrome oxidase, essential for cellular respiration. This disrupts oxygen utilization by cells, leading to lactic acid buildup and further acidosis.
- Optic Nerve Damage: Methanol can damage the optic nerve and retina, causing methanol-induced optic neuropathy, which can result in permanent vision loss or blindness.
- Severe Health Risks: It can cause cerebral edema (fluid accumulation in the brain) and hemorrhage (bleeding), potentially leading to coma and death.
-Source: The Hindu
