What Does Counterfeit Alcohol Cause in the Body?

Attention to those who use fake alcohol! The increase in alcohol prices and the cost of living also increases the use of fake alcohol. Experts explained the damage that fake alcohol does to the body.

It Starts to Damage the Body After 6 Hours

 Yeditepe University Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology Head Prof. Dr. Ahmet Aydın warned against counterfeit alcohol and explained what should be done in cases of poisoning.

'Fake Alcohol Can Also Be Bandrolled'

Stating that it is not possible to understand whether the drink is fake or not from its color, smell or taste, Prof. Dr. Aydın made the following statements: “Counterfeit drink is an alcoholic drink produced using methyl alcohol instead of ethyl alcohol outside of legal production processes. Whether the drink is fake or not can only be understood through laboratory tests. These tests can determine whether the drink contains methyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol, which is poisonous. We know that alcoholic drinks are put on the market after being produced legally and then bandrolled. However, the fact that a bottle has a bandroll does not necessarily mean that it was produced legally and is not fake. There are also cases of fake bandroll use in the market. Another risky issue to be careful about is home-made drink production. It is usually not known whether the alcohol used in home-made drinks is ethyl or methyl. For this reason, drinks produced unknowingly with methyl alcohol lead to serious health problems and even loss of life.”

'Be Careful with Cheap Drinks'

Emphasizing that cheap drinks should be questioned, Yeditepe University Vice President and Head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology Prof. Dr. Ahmet Aydın made the following warnings: “Methyl alcohol, which is cheaper and used in fake drinks, metabolizes in the body and turns into formic acid. This process turns the neutral pH value of the blood into acid and leads to acidosis. Acidosis causes serious damage to all cells and organs. This situation, unfortunately, can lead to the loss of life.”

“Even Half a Teacup Can Lead to Loss of Life”

Emphasizing that the first 6 hours after alcohol is taken into the body are very critical, Prof. Dr. Aydın shared the following information: “Symptoms such as blurred vision may occur 6 hours after consuming counterfeit alcohol. However, the actual symptoms of poisoning become apparent 10-24 hours after consuming counterfeit alcohol. If a person is not treated due to alcohol poisoning, they may experience serious consequences such as loss of vision and may even go completely blind. The severity of poisoning depends on the degree of acidosis that occurs in the body. The main symptoms of alcohol poisoning are; confusion, balance and movement disorders, headache, nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, pain in the back, arms and legs, visual impairment, blindness and, if left untreated, coma and respiratory arrest and death. Even half a tea glass of pure methyl alcohol (30 ml) can be fatal. Making the patient vomit after the symptoms of poisoning appear is not effective. However, vomiting performed within a maximum of 1 hour after alcohol consumption may be beneficial. In cases of poisoning, early diagnosis and rapid intervention in the hospital are of vital importance.”

'It is vital that emergency services keep antidote stocks up to date' 

Stating that poisoned people should be taken to hospital immediately, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Aydın concluded his words as follows: “With a blood analysis to be performed in the hospital, it can be determined in a very short time whether there is methyl alcohol in the blood. Following the tests and examinations, appropriate treatment is applied against acidosis, which is the most important result of poisoning. At the same time, the poisoned person is also given an antidote. Treatment protocols are carried out by emergency services in accordance with standards. However, it is vital that emergency services constantly keep their antidote stocks up to date.”

Source: HORECA TREND and Science and Health News Agency