Hooch Tragedy | 26 Jun 2024

Source: TH

Why in News?

Recently, around 34 people have died, and around 100 others have been hospitalised after consuming hooch or spurious liquor in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi district.

What is Hooch?

• About:
  • Hooch is a commonly used term for poor-quality alcohol, derived from Hoochinoo, a native Alaskan tribe that was known to produce very strong liquor.
  • It is often produced in unregulated and unsanitary conditions, leading to potential health risks.
  • The lack of quality control in hooch production makes it difficult for consumers to know the exact alcohol content and any potential contaminants present.
• Production Process:
  • Fermentation:
    • The production process is similar to making beer or wine. It starts with a sugary substance like fruits, grains, or sugarcane. Yeast is added, which ferments the sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
  • Distillation (Optional):
    • Hooch often has higher potency (strength), unlike beer or wine, which have lower alcohol content. Distillation increases the alcohol content by heating the fermented mixture.
    • Alcohol evaporates first due to its lower boiling point, and the vapor is captured and condensed back into a liquid, resulting in a stronger alcohol concentration.

What is Alcohol Content in Liquor?

• Alcohol in Liquor:
  • Ethanol is the type of alcohol commonly found in alcoholic beverages and is the psychoactive ingredient responsible for the effects of intoxication.
    • Ethanol (C2H5OH) is a compound consisting of two carbon atoms, six hydrogen atoms, and one hydroxyl group (OH-).
  • Liquor is differentiated by its alcohol content. It ranges from 5% in beer to 40% in distilled spirits such as vodka and whiskey.
  • Inside the body, ethanol is metabolised in the liver and the stomach by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) enzymes to acetaldehyde.
    • Then, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) enzymes transform the acetaldehyde into acetate.
• Spurious Liquor:
  • It is a fake or counterfeit alcohol that is often made at home.
  • In this methanol is added to make the alcohol stronger in terms of its intoxicating effects or to increase the quantity of the liquor being produced. It is a harmful substance that can be dangerous if consumed in high amounts.
  • Hooch production carries inherent risk due to the presence of toxic methanol in the distilled fermented mixture, alongside consumable ethanol.
• Regulation:
  • The Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations 2018 prescribe the maximum permissible quantity of methanol in different liquors.
  • These values span a wide range, including “absent” in coconut fenny, 50 grams per 100 litres of country liquor, and 300 grams per 100 litres of pot-distilled spirits.

What is Key Facts About Methanol and its Consumption?

• Methanol:
  • Methanol, chemically represented as CH3OH, is a simple alcohol molecule consisting of one carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms and one hydroxyl group (OH).
  • Regulations:
    • Methanol is classified under Schedule I of the Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules 1989 in India.
    • Indian Standard IS 517 specifies how the quality of methanol should be determined.
  • Industrial Production:
    • Methanol is primarily produced industrially by combining carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of copper and zinc oxide catalysts, typically at pressures of 50-100 atm and temperatures around 250°C.
      • Historically, methanol was also produced through the destructive distillation of wood, a method known since ancient times, including in ancient Egypt.
  • Industrial Uses:
    • Methanol serves as a crucial precursor in the production of acetic acid, formaldehyde, and various aromatic hydrocarbons. It is widely used as a solvent, antifreeze, and in various industrial processes due to its chemical properties.
• Effect on Human Body:
  • Metabolic Acidosis:
    • Methanol in the body is broken down into toxic byproducts, primarily formic acid. This acid disrupts the body's delicate pH balance in the blood, leading to a condition called metabolic acidosis (production of excessive acid that cannot be flushed out by kidneys).
    • This makes the blood more acidic, hindering its ability to function properly.
  • Cellular Oxygen Deprivation:
    • Formic acid also interferes with an enzyme called cytochrome oxidase, which is crucial for cellular respiration. This disrupts the cells' ability to use oxygen, leading to a buildup of lactic acid and further contributing to acidosis.
  • Vision Impairment:
    • Methanol can damage the optic nerve and retina, causing methanol-induced optic neuropathy. This condition can lead to permanent vision problems, including blindness.
  • Brain Damage:
    • It can cause cerebral edema (fluid buildup in the brain) and hemorrhage (bleeding). These can lead to coma and death.
• Treatment:
  • Pharmaceutical-Grade Ethanol: Medical ethanol competes with methanol for the same enzymes (ADH) in the liver. Since the body processes ethanol much faster (around 10x faster), it prevents the methanol from being converted into toxic formic acid.
  • Fomepizole: It binds to the ADH enzymes, slowing down the metabolism of methanol to formic acid. This allows the body to eliminate methanol before it causes serious harm.
  • Dialysis: It may be prescribed to remove methanol and its toxic byproducts (formic acid salts) directly from the bloodstream. This can help protect the kidneys and retina from damage.
  • Folinic Acid: This medication helps the body break down formic acid into less harmful substances like carbon dioxide and water.

Read more:

• Industrial Alcohol Regulation
• Ban on Liquor
• Crack Down on Illegal Liquor Supply