Consumption of illegal home-made alcohol in Malawi: A neglected public health threat

• Published in: Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.) Vol. 75; pp. 99 - 103
• Main Authors: Namondwe, Thokozani, Ching'anda, Connel, Gama, Aggrey Pemba, Matumba, Limbikani
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2019; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Alcohol; Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects; Alcohol Drinking - blood; Alcohol Drinking - trends; Alcohol use; Alcoholic beverages; Alcoholic Beverages - adverse effects; Alcoholism; Blood; Computer simulation; Consumers; Esophageal cancer; Ethanol; Ethanol - administration & dosage; Ethanol - adverse effects; Ethanol - blood; Health risks; Humans; Illicit Drugs - adverse effects; Illicit Drugs - blood; Informal economy; Intoxication; Kachasu; Malawi - epidemiology; Male; Methanol; Methanol - administration & dosage; Methanol - adverse effects; Methanol - blood; Monte Carlo simulation; Public health; Public Health - trends; Random Allocation; Spirit; Sugars - adverse effects; Toxicity; Zea mays - adverse effects; Malawi; New York; United States > US; Africa; Alcohol; Intoxication; Spirit; Kachasu; Methanol
• ISSN: 0741-8329; 1873-6823
• DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2018.08.003

This study assessed the ethanol and methanol contents of homemade spirit (Kachasu) sold in Blantyre, Malawi. The likelihood of ethanol and methanol toxicity, respectively, was determined through Monte Carlo simulations using reported Kachasu intake volumes of 21 consumers and the determined methanol and ethanol contents. Ethanol concentration, in samples from 20 different distillers, ranged from 11 to 55% v/v. Methanol was detected in 10 of the 20 samples (0.01–0.28% v/v). The likely mean ethanol intake of drinkers in Blantyre was found to be 214 ± 93 mL per day (90% CI, 68.9–373.4 mL), and mean methanol intake was 0.44 ± 0.37 mL (90% CI, 0.03–1.17 mL). The intake values translated to mean blood ethanol and methanol concentrations of 38 ± 16 mg/mL and 0.05 ± 0.04 mg/mL, respectively. Therefore, the risk of methanol toxicity was considered as negligible. However, there was a high risk of ethanol toxicity. Since production and selling of Kachasu are already illegal in Malawi, enforcement of regulations should be strengthened to reverse the current situation where Kachasu is being distilled and sold openly even within cities. Consumers should also be sensitized about the likely risks associated with consumption of Kachasu in Malawi so that they can make informed choices. •The likelihood of ethanol toxicity from Kachasu consumption is high.•Half of the samples had traces of methanol, but risk of methanol toxicity is low.•Regulations should be enforced to reduce the risks associated with Kachasu intake.