To encourage raising awareness of the dangers
INTERTANKO has been advised from a verified source that, tragically, the industry continues to experience a number of incidents involving fatalities attributable to alcohol poisoning. The purpose of this Safety Alert is to highlight this disturbing trend and encourage raising awareness of the dangers associated with:
- the consumption of alcohol purchased from dubious sources;
- the unlawful production of illicit alcoholic liquors.
Alcohol poisoning is a condition where the alcohol content in a person’s blood increases to an extent where it hampers the normal functioning of the central nervous system. Acute alcohol poisoning is triggered by excessive consumption of alcohol in a short period of time. When this occurs the individual is in great danger unless medical treatment is administered in a timely fashion.
There have also been a number of cases, where illegally produced alcohol such as methyl alcohol (methanol) has been secretly obtained from unreliable sources, resulting in death for those who have consumed the product. Methanol, like many other toxic alcohols, has a smell very similar to ethyl alcohol found in alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine and spirits. It is used as a solvent, as a glass cleaner, and also in antifreeze.
Methanol is highly toxic and can cause serious health damage such as blindness, liver failure, kidney failure and in many cases can result in death. It is therefore evident that the dangers associated with purchasing alcohol from unfamiliar sources, or with the production of alcohol, is self-evident.
Despite an awareness of this, tragically there continues to be an increasing fatality rate.
Source : INTERTANKO
