New York Times Reports “At Least 70 Dead” from Tainted Alcohol
As the Coronavirus continues to devastate countries across the globe, a new headline emerged. The New York Times is reporting “At Least 70 Dead in Mexico from Drinking Tainted Alcohol.” This is not the first time the country had reports of alcohol poisoning people, but it comes at a time when the country is already reeling from the pandemic.
According to the New York Times article states that at least 20 of the dead are from a poor town. Those affected are believed to have “consumed a cheap, popular moonshine.” Mexico had tried to curtail the sale of alcohol amid the outbreak of COVID-19 which some suspect drove people to buy alcohol off the black market. Unfortunately, some of this alcohol has been altered.
Unregulated alcohol has been a problem in Mexico for some time. As noted by the Times, the U.S. State Department warned travelers about consuming alcohol in Mexico. The problem extends from poor towns to resorts. After a 20-year-old girl died after consuming alcohol at an Iberostar hotel in Riviera Maya, authorities raided numerous establishments. The incident occurred in January 2017 as reported by CBS News. According to the article, the death prompted Mexican authorities to raid numerous establishments finding hundreds of gallons of alcohol that “contained dangerous levels of methanol.”
Mexico is not the only country where unregulated alcohol has sickened or killed people. Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, India, Indonesia, and others have all had deaths believed to be caused by tainted alcohol.
If you choose to drink, you need to do so wisely. Not only is moderation important but so is knowing where the alcohol has come from, particularly if you are traveling to another country. If you are struggling with alcohol dependence, there are treatment options. Even during these difficult times, there is support from a number of places and a wide range of choices for achieving sobriety.