Hooch Tragedies in India

In May 2025, a major hooch tragedy in Amritsar, Punjab, resulted in twenty-one deaths due to suspected methanol contamination in illicit liquor.

Chemical Toxicity and Regulatory Standards

  • Methanol () is a highly volatile industrial solvent that breaks down into toxic formic acid in the liver.
  • Ingestion causes metabolic acidosis, leading to permanent optic nerve damage, blindness, brain swelling, coma, or death.
  • The Food Safety and Standards Regulations 2018 establish maximum permissible methanol limits for various alcoholic beverages.
  • Industrial methanol quality is specifically governed by Indian Standard IS 517 to ensure safety in manufacturing.

Legal Framework and Governance Challenges

  • Alcohol regulation falls under the ....
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