Liquor is one of the most highly revered drinks in India. So much so that there is liquor for just about every social demographic in the country, whether rich or poor!
So it’s no surprise that just like here in Kenya, there is cheap liquor for individuals who make under one dollar a day.
Woe unto you if you find this type of liquor in your vicinity. Not only will you be risking your eyesight, your overall health, but your life as well!
Unfortunately, this was the case this weekend in India, after some bootleggers released liquor to the public that turned out to be dangerous.
And the body count says it all…
In Uttarakhand State, the police confirmed that about 31 people died from consuming the poisonous liquor in question.
The bootlegger’s liquor also made it to the district of Uttar Pradesh,where 59 people died after partaking in the deadly concoction as per information released by police spokesman Shailendra Kumar.
With that in mind, tabloids in India have estimated that nearly 3000 people are linked with the illegal bootlegging and trade of counterfeit alcohol in the district of Uttar Pradesh.
The country has estimated that hundreds of impoverished Indians die every year from purchasing and consuming counterfeit alcohol.
For example, the death toll rose to one hundred in 2015 after a group of people consumed bottles of illegal moonshine.
In fact, the International Spirits and Wine Association of India has estimated that India consumes about 5 billion litres of alcohol on a yearly basis. And of this alcohol, roughly 40 percent of it is bootleg liquor being produced illegally.
Perhaps local Kenyans should learn a lesson or two from this international tragedy. The next time you go for a casual drink at your locale, double check to ensure that the liquor that you’re drinking is not a counterfeit product!