Costa Rica officials say tainted alcohol kills at least 19

Costa Rica issues national alert after alcohol poisoned with methanol is found to have caused 19 deaths

  • Five women and 14 men have died after drinking drinking contaminated liquor since early June in Costa Rica
  • The Health Ministry said the victims ranged from 32 to 72 years in age 
  • Government officials have seized about 30,000 bottles from brands suspected of containing methanol
  • Brands seized include Guaro Montano, Guaro Gran Apache, Star Welsh, Aguardiente Barón Rojo, Aguardiente Timbuka and Aguardiente Molotov 

The Costa Rican government has issued a national alert saying that alcohol tainted with methanol is behind the deaths of 19 people. 

Five women and 14 men have died after drinking contaminated liquor since early June, according to the government. 

The Health Ministry said the victims ranged from 32 to 72 years in age.

While investigations continue, the ministry said in a report that the alcohol had been poisoned with methanol. 

The Costa Rican government has issued a national alert saying that alcohol tainted with methanol is behind the deaths of 19 people. They released the above photo showing some of the brands they had seized 

The deaths occurred in June and July in the Cost Rican towns of San Jose, Cartago, Limon, Guanacaste and Heredia.

Government officials have seized about 30,000 bottles from brands suspected of containing methanol.

The ministry said it believes the tainted alcohol is just counterfeit products of known brand names.  

Those brands seized include Guaro Montano, Guaro Gran Apache, Star Welsh, Aguardiente Barón Rojo, Aguardiente Timbuka and Aguardiente Molotov.

The government has warned people to avoid these brands as they investigate. 

Aguardiente translates to English as ‘fire water’. Both it and guaro are traditionally distilled from sugar cane. 

Liquor sellers sometimes dilute products with toxic methanol to increase profit margins or raise alcohol content.

Consuming methanol can cause dizziness, drowsiness, headaches and an inability to move muscles.  

‘It is important to emphasize that this information is preliminary since the investigations continue,’ a statement from the ministry said. 

‘The Ministry of Health continues to carry out operations throughout the national territory in order to reduce the exposure of consumers to adulterated products.’  

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