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 ....