At least 12 people have died and 20 others are in a critical condition after drinking bad alcohol in the Iranian city of Shiraz, officials say. At least five of those affected are said to have gone blind. Hospitals in Shiraz reported a sudden rush of severe poisoning cases on Thursday night. But because alcohol is banned here, it took a while for officials to realise that an adulterated supply was behind the spate of admissions. First results of autopsies carried out on some of the victims suggested they had been poisoned by methanol, a substance sometimes added to drinks to boost their potency. | Or improper distillation, or improper ingredients, or someone just swiped it somewhere and sold it as alcohol. |
The judiciary said the investigation was being hampered by the families’ reluctance to talk, but that 14 suspects had already been arrested. Although Shiraz had given its name to one of the world’s best-known wine grapes, the sale of alcohol is officially banned here. Alcohol consumption by Muslims is subject to heavy punishment, although Christians and Jews are allowed to drink in private. In practice, there is a thriving trade in locally made or smuggled alcohol, with the temptation for unscrupulous or ignorant dealers to make more money by adulterating their products. |