afrol News / Destination Santé, 14 August - There’s nothing like a little drink of millet, maize or palm oil alcohol to get the day off to a bad start. In Africa, homemade alcoholic drinks occupy pride of place among the various types of alcohol on sale. They are sold on the streets – often by women – and at competition-beating prices. But beware! These drinks are dangerous on two counts!

As well as the normal dangers associated with excess alcohol consumption –
and which can never be repeated too often – these particular products can
cause disastrous physical and psychological damage. Their danger stems from
the fact that they contain methanol, an alcohol that is highly toxic to the
human body and which is produced during distillation.

It is absolutely essential that methanol is removed, completely, or very
substantially, from all these distilled beverages. Unfortunately the
equipment used in the homemade manufacture of these types of alcoholic
drink is too rudimentary for this to be possible. So the methanol ends up in
the glass.

When absorbed by humans, it is transformed into an acid – formic acid –
which the body is unable to eliminate. This acid ends up blocking the
nervous system and can lead to blindness, coma and eventually death. Those
who consume these drinks should watch out for tell-tale signs such as
nausea, vomiting, stiffening of the joints and headaches. These are the
early symptoms of methanol absorption and require immediate consultation
with a doctor.

© afrol News / Destination Santé

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