9,814 persons died of alcoholic poisoning in Ukraine in 1996 and over 11,000 in 1997.
By way of comparison, there were 3,654 such cases registered ten years ago, a little over one fourth. Despite common belief, such cases are frequent not only among alcoholics and vagrants, but also on quite decent occasions like weddings, seeing off conscripts, family celebrations, etc. By national tradition, each such occasion is accompanied by heavy drinking, so crates of bottles are bought – and of course, the cheaper the better, meaning that the host just goes to the nearest bazaar. The State Consumer Right Protection Committee has statistics saying that 45.8% of alcoholic beverages sold at such makeshift markets is counterfeit, often containing deadly methyl and amyl alcohol, and metallic admixtures capable of seriously damaging the organism.
How can one protect oneself against such bogus booze? First, never buy such beverages in open-air bazaars. Go to the nearest store where quality and safety are guaranteed. And always ask to see the beverage’s certification document. Also, carefully examine every bottle, its label, and the cap. The manufacturer’s name should be identical on both if it’s the real thing.
Reuters photo







