Wandering across foreign lands is an adventure. Part of this great adventure is exposure to new cultures, people, food and most importantly alcohol. We backpackers, however, are a cheap lot and look for the most affordable and authentic local drinks we can find in order to stretch our budget. This search for cheap alcohol, however, can have unexpected consequences if you come across fake alcohol such as the ones that were discovered to be behind the death of over 80 people in Indonesia.

It is therefore important to be in the know about what fake alcohol is, the dangers posed by consuming it and how to identify it.

What is it?

Fake alcohol is alcohol that is made in illicit breweries and homes of individuals who are not licensed by the government to produce alcohol. These unlicensed brewers have neither the expertise or the equipment to brew alcohol as per the standards set by the government and consuming such illicit liquor can have undesirable health consequences.

What are the dangers of it?

Alcohol that is produced as per the government’s standard is made of ethanol which has been approved for consumption by humans.

The fake alcohol, however, is made of other cheaper types of alcohol used in the making of antifreeze, screen wash, and nail polish removers. It is therefore not difficult to imagine how toxic the consumption of such fake alcohol is.

Why is it done?

The primary reason for the brewing of such illegal concoctions is monetary profit.

Fake alcohol sells for much cheaper than the ones approved for sale by the government and is more attractive for buyers. The sellers, in turn, earn a large profit since the raw materials used are very cheap and they don’t pay taxes to the government.

Where is it done?

Fake alcohol despite the government’s best attempts is increasingly spreading and can be found in all corners of the globe. Such alcohol, however, is usually bound to be found in areas where alcohol consumption is highest such as parties.

How to steer clear of fake alcohol?

There are several ways one can determine the genuineness of the alcohol that is being served

Product – Watch out for brands you have never heard of before and stop consuming if the said alcohol has a smell akin to turpentine or other strong liquids.
Price – the fake alcohol will be priced lower than the maximum retail price the original sells for.
Packaging – poor packaging is always a giveaway. We recommend keeping an eye out for tampered seals, wrong branding/spelling and/or stickers that appear to be cheap on the bottles.
Place – always buy your alcohol from a reputable off-license or retailer

What do I do in a case of accidental consumption?

Visit the nearest hospital immediately with the drink that you were consuming and inform the medical offers of your suspicions to seek treatment.

Sources
Fake Alcohol