Melena Thomas By

Express News Service

Alcohol. Spirit. Every substance that goes by either of the terms simply does not make for that ‘social’ drink. Lack of awareness over the years has taken the ‘spirit’ out of many lives, the latest being a ‘lifting’ incident in Kozhikode last week. Express examines.

KOZHIKODE: They say a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. If so, then the lack of knowledge can lead to disaster. A case in point is the death of three persons in Kozhikode recently after consuming methyl alcohol smuggled out of a hospital. In its aftermath, the Excise Department has sounded the alarm. Officers say lack of awareness about methanol, methylated spirit and denatured alcohol results in tipplers opting for such poisonous stuff instead of ethyl alcohol or potable spirit. A lot of people still believe consuming denatured alcohol or rectified spirit is safe, which is actually not the case, an Excise officer told Express.

In the investigation conducted into the recent death of the three persons, it was found one of the victims allegedly lifted the spirit from a hospital, assuming it was used for cleaning wounds and hence could be consumed. Excise Deputy Commissioner P K Suresh said hospitals store two types of spirit - methyl alcohol and denatured spirit (generally know as methylated spirit as methanol is added to it).

“All these spirits are not fit for consumption. Methyl alcohol is industrial spirit and is highly poisonous. Denatured spirit is ethyl alcohol laced with another chemical to make it unfit for consumption. We give licence to hospitals to store denatured spirit for surgical purpose,” he said, adding the institutions need to ensure storage of denatured spirit in secure places to prevent pilferage.Kozhikode Assistant Drug Controller P M Jayan said hospitals should mandatorily follow the storage guidelines. Otherwise, action will be initiated.

Hospitals to come under the scanner

Kozhikode: Methyl alcohol spelt doom for three residents of Malayamma AKG Colony - Balan, 55, Sandeep, 38, and Chekkutty, 61, - a week ago. Two of them died on July 22 and the third victim succumbed to poisoning the following day. Apparently, one of them had lifted the spirit from the casualty of the hospital where he was working as a security guard. In the aftermath of the tragedy, hospitals will be under the scanner of the Drugs Control Department. Officers will check whether healthcare institutions are adhering to the guidelines for storing and handling methyl alcohol. “We are probing the matter,” said Kozhikode Assistant Drug Controller P M Jayan. “Our officers inspected the hospital on July 24 to collect details of stock and examine whether the guidelines about the storage and handling of methanol were followed.”He said the team will also inspect other hospitals to check if they comply with the guidelines. Any lapse on the part of hospitals will make them liable for punishment. Hospitals without a licence under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act should procure a permit under the Kerala Poison Rules to use and store methanol. “It is learnt the hospital where the victim worked bought methanol from dealers at Malappuram. It is also being investigated,” said the officer.



What is methanol?

Methanol is a light, colourless, flammable liquid with a distinctive odour very similar to ethanol (drinking alcohol). It is highly toxic and unfit for consumption. When consumed, it poisons the central nervous system and may lead to blindness, coma and death.