Kampong Chhnang Provincial Police have arrested nine people and charged six of them accused of “manslaughter” in Toek Phos district in connection with the recent deaths caused by poisoned rice wine. Provincial police chief Major General Khov Ly said that so far authorities have found and ordered 515 rice wine producers to cease operations and confiscated rice wine from 115 distributors in the province.

 

Prak Von, director of the provincial health department, said that eight people died and 131 were hospitalised at the start of the month as a result of poisoned rice wine. All of those that were in hospital have recovered. Von said that the Ministry of Health cooperated with local authorities to educate and remind people about the dangers of drinking rice wine with high methanol levels.

 

“I called on rice wine sellers in Kampong Chhnang province to not produce rice wine unless they are a professional. I would like to request that all residents do not buy rice wine without knowing it comes from a reputable source,” he added. Long Sitha, provincial court spokesman, said that of the six people charged with “manslaughter”, five are being jailed pending their trial and the other is currently in hospital.

 

read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50791527/nine-arrested-six-charged-over-rice-wine-poisoning-case/

Wrong yeast = methanol as well as ethanol.

Methanol is usually less expensive than drinkable quality ethanol so sometimes moonshine producers will add some methanol to boost the alcohol content of what they sell.

 

Technically ethanol is a poison, and can be deadly if you drink too much, but methanol is many times more poisonous. 

 

Fun fact, the treatment for methanol poisoning is to give an IV of a saline solution of enough ethanol to keep you drunk until the body expels the methanol.  Happy hospitalization until you get the bill.

I wonder if this is in any way border closure related?   Maybe somchi couldn't export so new producers had to learn?

 

How much did these people need to drink to getsick?  Just a sip will make you sick? Or were these  heavy drinkers who drank their usual large  amount?

Edited December 10, 20205 yr by Elkski