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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

âBad alcoholâ kills 12 Iranians

2004-06-13

At least 12 people have died and 20 others are in a critical condition after drinking bad alcohol in the Iranian city of Shiraz, officials say. At least five of those affected are said to have gone blind. Hospitals in Shiraz reported a sudden rush of severe poisoning cases on Thursday night. But because alcohol is banned here, it took a while for officials to realise that an adulterated supply was behind the spate of admissions. First results of autopsies carried out on some of the victims suggested they had been poisoned by methanol, a substance sometimes added to drinks to boost their potency.

Or improper distillation, or improper ingredients, or someone just swiped it somewhere and sold it as alcohol.

The judiciary said the investigation was being hampered by the familiesâ reluctance to talk, but that 14 suspects had already been arrested. Although Shiraz had given its name to one of the worldâs best-known wine grapes, the sale of alcohol is officially banned here. Alcohol consumption by Muslims is subject to heavy punishment, although Christians and Jews are allowed to drink in private. In practice, there is a thriving trade in locally made or smuggled alcohol, with the temptation for unscrupulous or ignorant dealers to make more money by adulterating their products.

Posted by:Mark Espinola

#8 Methanol also goes BOOM very easily. Believe it or not, ethylene glycol is used in making a lot of plastics.

Posted by: Deacon Blues 2004-06-13 8:45:46 PM

In practice, there is a thriving trade in locally made or smuggled alcohol

So much for their wonderful, pure religion which of course everyone must follow so we'll have a perfect world, yadda, yadda, yadda....

News flash for the mullahs: Human beings being human, prohibition doesn't work! Just ask the Great Satan about the 18th Amendment to our Constitution.

Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-06-13 4:33:14 PM

#6 Methanol, a one carbon alcohol, is perhaps the most common cause of toxic blindness.

Ethylene glycol [antifreeze] is metabolized by the liver and travels in the bloodstream to the kidneys, where it forms insoluble calcium oxalate crystals inside the renal tubules. Dr. Volmer says, "Once metabolism of the ethylene glycol has reached a certain point, there is no way to stop it." Because these crystals are insoluble, there is no way to remove them from the body. They cause permanent damage to the kidney tissue, which can ultimately lead to kidney failure.

Posted by: Zenster 2004-06-13 12:49:44 PM

#5 At least five of those affected are said to have gone blind.

Antifreeze???

Posted by: Rafael 2004-06-13 8:47:13 AM

#4 Korea has an alcoholic drink called Jin Ro,you have to pour off the first inch or so or you will go blind(rot gut taste like rubbing alcohol).

Posted by: Raptor 2004-06-13 6:55:03 AM

#3 Death is one way to avoid a hangover.

Posted by: JDB 2004-06-13 3:53:54 AM

#2 âBad alcoholâ kills 12 Iranians

Bad alcohol! Naughty alcohol! Wicked alcohol! You've been killing and blinding Iranians again. Now, go to your room and stay there!

Posted by: Zenster 2004-06-13 1:14:18 AM

#1 "...added to drinks to boost their potency."

Yeah, it's a real trip - 'til you go blind and/or die.

"...make more money..."

Only works once, though, if your customers are all dead.

Posted by: PBMcL 2004-06-13 12:52:40 AM

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