Chemically speaking, alcohol is primarily ethanol or ethyl alcohol, consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. To make it consumable, water is mixed into it in large amounts. During the fermentation process, fruit-derived esters are used in very tiny quantities to impart a fruity flavor. Additionally, aldehydes and fusels are added for taste and aroma. If fermentation takes place in wooden casks, tannins are also naturally incorporated. While there is a standard chemical formula for producing ethanol, mixing methanol into it can prove fatal, and that is where all the complications begin. We spoke with Dr. Prabhat Ranjan Sinha, Director and Unit Head of Internal Medicine at Max Healthcare, to understand what exactly this beverage does inside the body and why it turns into a deadly poison that claims human lives.
Is All Alcohol Inherently Poisonous
Dr. Prabhat Ranjan Sinha explained that first of all, one must understand that if properly manufactured ethanol is consumed in moderation by an individual, the chance of it acting as a poison inside the body is almost negligible. Toxicity occurs when methyl alcohol is adulterated alongside ethanol. Poor quality and cheap liquor often contain methyl alcohol, which is produced illegally without adhering to any standard chemical formulas. Such illicit brews generally contain cheap additives like ammonium chloride, which essentially help create methyl alcohol. This methyl alcohol is a poison in its own right. The moment it enters the stomach, it converts into formaldehyde and formic acid, directly attacking the human nervous system, liver, and optic nerves. The consequences can easily turn fatal. Dr. Prabhat Ranjan noted that while no form of alcohol is good for health, this particular concoction is not even real alcohol because of the added methyl alcohol, which is why referring to it as toxic liquor is accurate since the poison itself is methanol.
How Toxic Liquor Destroys Internal Organs
Genuine alcohol, when consumed, goes to the stomach and is metabolized by the liver. The liver uses various enzymes to break down ethyl alcohol into different components, ultimately turning it into acetaldehyde. While still harmful, if the beverage is actually toxic liquor adulterated with methyl alcohol, it directly transforms into formaldehyde and subsequently into formic acid. Both formaldehyde and formic acid are extremely toxic and carcinogenic agents. Formaldehyde is exceptionally lethal and immediately begins damaging liver cells. This can lead to liver failure, rupture intestines, and fracture the optical nerves of the eyes. It breaches the blood-brain barrier, causing neural networks in the brain to degenerate. Patients may develop peritonitis, causing life-threatening inflammation in the inner lining of the abdomen. Under these conditions, the patient can suffer from epileptic seizures, vomiting, and loss of consciousness. It can impair vital organs including the kidneys, liver, and heart. Once formic acid dissolves in the bloodstream, it shuts down the mitochondria inside the cells. Mitochondria are responsible for generating energy for the body, and their failure prevents cells from utilizing oxygen. This triggers metabolic acidoses, generating dangerous levels of acid in the blood. Consequently, the kidneys, liver, and heart stop functioning. When brain cells are deprived of oxygen, breathing ceases, the patient slips into a coma, and death occurs due to multi-organ failure.
Can Consumers Identify Toxic Liquor Beforehand
Unfortunately, if toxic liquor enters the market, identifying it on one's own is extremely difficult. Laboratory testing is required to confirm its presence. Therefore, if someone consumes substandard or toxic liquor, there is no practical method based on taste or visual inspection prior to drinking that can reveal its toxicity. It cannot be identified merely by tasting it.
What Quantity of Alcohol Triggers Fatal Toxicity
Dr. Prabhat Sinha points out that if a beverage contains methyl alcohol, even a tiny droplet of it acts as poison because methyl alcohol is entirely toxic. The question of why it affects different people with varying intensity depends on multiple factors. It is possible that someone has an exceptionally efficient metabolism that quickly converts and expels the toxin from the body, but if the substance is methyl alcohol, its adverse effects will impact everyone to some degree. The impact varies in severity, but the greater the volume of methyl alcohol entering an individual's system, the faster their organs will suffer damage.
Crucial Safety Measures and Medical Advice
Dr. Prabhat Ranjan Sinha emphasizes that the ideal situation is to abstain from alcohol entirely, as it is harmful in every conceivable way. Nevertheless, if someone insists on drinking, they should opt for the highest quality spirits. Even if one drinks only once a year, premium quality should be the priority. Substandard, loose, and cheap alcohol carries a high risk of containing methyl alcohol, and therefore, such risks should never be taken. Additionally, consuming plenty of water while drinking is advisable.
