In late December 2016, 58 people died from mass methanol poisoning in Irkutsk, Russia. It was caused by people drinking cheap counterfeit alcohol that was actually supposed to be used as a bath lotion.[1] The counterfeit was called Boyaryshnik (Боярышник; Russian for "Hawthorn").[2]
Cause
changeBoyaryshnik was much cheaper than vodka, so people bought it instead amid the tough economic conditions.[1] Similar incidents have been on the rise as Russia's economy has suffered from low oil prices and international sanctions from the Russian intervention in Ukraine.[3] Russia's deputy prime minister said before the incident that this type of alcohol made up 20% of all the alcohol drank in the country.[4]
The lotion was mixed with methanol; which is an alcohol that is poisonous. The label on the bottle said that the lotion instead had ethanol. A total of 58 people died from drinking the lotion.[1][3] The victims were poor and were all between the ages of 35 and 50.[2]
Aftermath
changeMany people who were involved with making the potion were arrested. About 500 litres (130 US gal) of lotion was confiscated from the facility where it was made.[3]
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev called for a ban on counterfeit alcohol, stating that "it's an outrage, and we need to put an end to this."[3]
References
change- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Nechepurenko, Ivan (19 December 2016). "In Russia, Dozens Dies After Drinking Alcohol Substitute". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "State of emergency declared in Russia as 49 die in bath lotion drinking case". CBS News. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Isachenkov, Vladimir (19 December 2016). "Alcohol poisoning death toll in Russian city rises to 49". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
- ↑ "Russia bath lotion kills 48 drinkers in Irkutsk". BBC News. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.