Toxic Moonshine in India
Blog written by: Boomikha
How does this relate to Social Studies?
This entire conflict is related to the standard of living that we learned in our spatial inequality
unit. If a part of the population wasn’t in poverty in India with a low standard of living,
they would not have turned to cheap alcohol called moonshine. If they did this, these people
would have consumed government manufactured alcohol. Because of this, these poisoned
victims would not have suffered.
This entire conflict is related to the standard of living that we learned in our spatial inequality
unit. If a part of the population wasn’t in poverty in India with a low standard of living,
they would not have turned to cheap alcohol called moonshine. If they did this, these people
would have consumed government manufactured alcohol. Because of this, these poisoned
victims would not have suffered.
Timeline:
The first incident occurred in 2011 in West Bengal with 168 casualties. This repeated four years later in 2015 in a Muslim slum with more than 100 people left poisoned and suffering. This event took place in February of 2019 with 133 people dead and left many poisoned.
The Conflict in the Past, Present, and Future:
This isn’t the first time people have been poisoned by this moonshine. The deadliest incident
of all was in 2011 with at least 168 people dead from alcohol poisoning in West Bengal. Four
years later, in 2015, more than 100 people were affected from drinking moonshine in a
Muslim slum. This outbreak occurred in February of 2019 that has affected 133 people dead
and many more left hospitalized. These victims were tea plantation workers from the Uttar
Pradesh and Uttarakhand states. Nobody knows who mainly caused it, but we do know why
these tea plantation workers chose to drink this toxic moonshine.
Well, what is moonshine? Moonshine is cheap alcohol manufactured in small, rural villages. Afterwards, the moonshine is smuggled and sold to people in poverty that can’t afford the government manufactured alcohol. These manufacturers advertise the illegal alcohol as a “country-made liquor.” Manufacturers also claim that they sent the alcohol for “testing.”
This isn’t the first time people have been poisoned by this moonshine. The deadliest incident
of all was in 2011 with at least 168 people dead from alcohol poisoning in West Bengal. Four
years later, in 2015, more than 100 people were affected from drinking moonshine in a
Muslim slum. This outbreak occurred in February of 2019 that has affected 133 people dead
and many more left hospitalized. These victims were tea plantation workers from the Uttar
Pradesh and Uttarakhand states. Nobody knows who mainly caused it, but we do know why
these tea plantation workers chose to drink this toxic moonshine.
Well, what is moonshine? Moonshine is cheap alcohol manufactured in small, rural villages. Afterwards, the moonshine is smuggled and sold to people in poverty that can’t afford the government manufactured alcohol. These manufacturers advertise the illegal alcohol as a “country-made liquor.” Manufacturers also claim that they sent the alcohol for “testing.”
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| Moonshine that was smuggled from villages and sold to the tea plantation workers. |
This is one of many outbreaks in India that have happened, so these incidents will continue to occur in the future unless action is taken. Further steps can be taken with stricter alcohol and drinking laws.
What would happen if the moonshine was around the same price as government
manufactured, legal alcohol?
What kind of problem does moonshine show?
People are only turning to moonshine because they can’t afford to buy safe governmental
manufactured alcohol at approximately thirty cents a glass. A glass of moonshine is a third
of this price at only ten cents a glass. But this isn’t the only reason.
manufactured alcohol at approximately thirty cents a glass. A glass of moonshine is a third
of this price at only ten cents a glass. But this isn’t the only reason.
Another reason is because this moonshine is deadly. This illegal beverage contains revolting,
disgusting ingredients such as rubbing alcohol and methanol. Methanol poisoned patients
feel dizzy, confused, drowsy, have headaches, and lose the ability to have
muscle coordination.
disgusting ingredients such as rubbing alcohol and methanol. Methanol poisoned patients
feel dizzy, confused, drowsy, have headaches, and lose the ability to have
muscle coordination.
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| A poisoned tea plantation worker being treated at a local hospital |
What would happen if the moonshine was around the same price as government
manufactured, legal alcohol?
These people in poverty with a low standard of living would have turned to another
substance. Some may have stopped altogether, but others would find a replacement for
moonshine as an alcoholic beverage. If the price of moonshine was the same as legal alcohol
in India, this entire conflict would have probably never have happened or would have
occurred with another substance that wasn't moonshine.
substance. Some may have stopped altogether, but others would find a replacement for
moonshine as an alcoholic beverage. If the price of moonshine was the same as legal alcohol
in India, this entire conflict would have probably never have happened or would have
occurred with another substance that wasn't moonshine.
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Safe, legal alcohol manufactured by the government of India. Costs 30 cents. People in poverty can't afford this so they turn to moonshine.My Opinion
I’m no expert when it comes to alcohol and toxic beverages. I just think that the fact the moonshine was sent in for “testing” was cruel with an outcome that cost many people their lives and risked their health. Also, if it is toxic, why would you drink it? I would just steer clear of anything that is toxic or poisoned.
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Works Cited
Main Article: Gupta,Swati. “Toxic moonshine kills 133 people and leaves hundred hospitalized in India.” CNN, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/toxic-monshine-kills-133-people-and-leaves-hundreds-hospitalized-in-india/ar-BBTZY16. Accessed 4 March 2019.
Kapur, Mallika. “Toxic moonshine kills at least 94 in India and lands 150 in the hospital.” CNN News, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUJsu5v-Vig. Accessed 3 March 2019.
T, Buddy. “Moonshine Can Still Cause Health Problems.” Very Well Mind, https://www.verywellmind.com/moonshine-can-still-cause-health-problems-63205. Accessed 3 March 2019.
Kapur, Mallika. “Toxic moonshine kills 102 in Mumbai slum.” MyPanHandle,
https://www.mypanhandle.com/news/toxic-moonshine-kills-99-in-mumbai-slum/123007234.
Accessed 6 March 2019.
https://www.mypanhandle.com/news/toxic-moonshine-kills-99-in-mumbai-slum/123007234.
Accessed 6 March 2019.
Trimble, Michaela. “What Is Moonshine Cocktails?” Tasting Table,
https://www.tastingtable.com/drinks/national/what-is-moonshine-cocktails. Accessed 6
March 2019.
https://www.tastingtable.com/drinks/national/what-is-moonshine-cocktails. Accessed 6
March 2019.
