PHNOM PENH (AFP) - Rice wine brewed with a toxic level of alcohol has killed at least 19 people and left 172 more hospitalised in northeastern Cambodia, the health ministry said on Sunday (Dec 13).

"Laboratory tests found the deaths were caused by the high methanol level in the wine," Ly Sovann, a spokesman for the health ministry, told AFP.

Local authorities in Kratie province, where residents have been falling ill since November 19 after drinking the tainted alcohol, have ordered all local brewers and rice wine sellers to close temporarily.

Tests carried out by the Ministry of Health have found that some of the wine involved in at least five separate incidents contained up to 12 percent methanol - the usual level is around 0.15 per cent.

Health Minister Mam Bunheng said in a statement released on Sunday (Dec 13) that people should immediately stop drinking rice or herbal wine that had been produced without proper inspection or permits from authorities.

Six of the deaths had been previously announced as being caused by rotten dog meat, but the ministry said further tests had shown that the wine was the cause of the poisoning.

Cambodians often drink locally brewed rice wine, which is relatively inexpensive but can be dangerous if not mixed properly.

Impoverished Cambodia is notorious for lax health and safety standards with cases of mass food poisoning common - although deaths on this scale are rare.

source: http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/tainted-rice-wine-kills-19-leaves-172-ill-in-cambodia

If a Khmer friend of yours suggest a dog meat diner with rice wine, just pass up.

I feel very sorry to hear that so many people have died and a lot of them are really suffering. It seems to happen in India on regular basis.

Even drinking "clean alcohol" in the long run seems to be idiotic. Why paying for a hangover and maybe die through a liver cirrhosis? Not even mentioning the money some people in Thailand who're considered poor, are wasting for alcohol.

At least, ten guys in my wife's village died through Lhao Kao, of course suffering a long time with the typical symptoms and just having my nose on a bottle turns my stomach around. Just wondering what's inside that stuff????

It's the main cause of accidents, wife beatings and not only the alcoholics suffer from. Nothing against a cold beer from time to time, but when alcohol starts to use you, it's time to stop. Can't you smell the smell? The smell is around you.......

Maybe I posted in the wrong forum?

If a Khmer friend of yours suggest a dog meat diner with rice wine, just pass up.

And I thought the Methanol would kill all the nasty still alive stuff......

Same in my wifes village in Issan, lao khao is the main cause of death amongst males.

Rice Wine Death Toll Reaches 23

Khmer Times/Mom Kunthear

Monday, 14 December 2015

143 views

The Cambodian government is scrambling to stop people from drinking rice wine after the number of villagers dead from methanol poisoning reached 23 in Kratie and Mondulkiri provinces and Phnom Penh yesterday.

More than 200 people have fallen ill because of the wine, and government is trying to educate people on how to be careful when making and consuming the alcoholic beverage.

Prime Minister Hun Sen warned the public to be careful with what they eat at a ‘Day of Prayer and Action for Children’ event in Phnom Penh.

read more: http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/18668/rice-wine-death-toll-reaches-23/

Rice Wine Death Toll Reaches 23

Khmer Times/Mom Kunthear

Monday, 14 December 2015

143 views

The Cambodian government is scrambling to stop people from drinking rice wine after the number of villagers dead from methanol poisoning reached 23 in Kratie and Mondulkiri provinces and Phnom Penh yesterday.

More than 200 people have fallen ill because of the wine, and government is trying to educate people on how to be careful when making and consuming the alcoholic beverage.

Prime Minister Hun Sen warned the public to be careful with what they eat at a ‘Day of Prayer and Action for Children’ event in Phnom Penh.

read more: http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/18668/rice-wine-death-toll-reaches-23/

Methanol you don't use for consumption . It's ethanol that you use and its less toxic . However the tax on ethanol is much higher .

thats why they use the deadly methanol , only for the money .