Lethal bootleg booze kills at least 26 in Indonesia

Source: The Spirits Business

by Melita Kiely

8th February, 2016

Police have made three arrests after at least 26 people were confirmed dead as a result of drinking toxic illicit alcohol in Indonesia.

Police investigating the incident said most of the victims died after consuming homemade alcohol from a couple in Sleman, a town north of Yogyakarta city.

“Most of the victims were students,” Sleman’s police chief told AFP, as reported by the Bangkok Post.

The first death was reported last Wednesday and was soon followed by further fatalities.

The couple who sold the bootleg booze – thought to be made from ethanol, water and fruit – has been arrested, and are alleged to have been responsible for 22 of the deaths.

The other four deaths are thought to have been the result of another illicit producer, who has also been arrested.

Last year, new legislation was introduced in Indonesia banning small retailers from selling the majority of alcoholic beverages so as to reduce drinking in the Muslim-majority country.

Later that same year, the Indonesian Finance Ministry increased import duties on spirits to 150% of market value.