禁漫天堂

Do you think this is related to issue Punta Cana resorts had with the liquor? Or different?

I believe it's unrelated.聽 It is also my understanding that this happens in other Caribbean聽 countries and Latin America.聽 Part of it stems from lack of standards, inspection and testing.聽 Part of it from praying on the weak and the unsuspecting.聽 Most of this would probably end up in smaller colmados, small local bars, restaurants etc. Yes, tourists can get into this as well by not being careful and doing things they shouldn't be doing in a country they don't know.聽 I am aware first hand of 1 victim at least.聽 A tourist, venturing off the beaten path trying to have a "good" time.聽 I believe we should focus on the positive which is the seizure and the awareness the authorities have shown and actions taken.

Certainly, excursions are a big question mark!

For me the positive is that it appears we have a government that will tackle the issue of unregulated alcohol wherever sold.

Sadly they don't seem to be doing enough to stop the death of over 100 locals!

Not sure what "Adulterated Alcohol" is - at least by this name - please explain....thanks

The term adulterated alcohol is now used by the press to cover all unregistered and illicitly made alcohols.

This includes the local high alcohol brew 'cleren' and doctored recognized brands with added methanol. Also unregistered unregulated alcoholic drinks.

Methanol can blind and kill and is cheap to produce.

Cleren:-



People have died recently from drinking cleren, adulterated whiskey and rum and unregistered drinks.

OK - thanks. First I've heard of it but given the current situation, I can see where desperate actions can be taken by desperate people - apart from the normal shady characters out for more $$$.....

There was a cas茅 not that long ago of a Venezuelan who went with his friends and family to Isla Saona in Punta Cana. He had some adulterated alcohol and is still in the hospital fighting for his life. Dominican Rep has all the necessary laws and agencies to tackle these problems, but the culture of corruption and bribes have been the standard for so long, they simply can't seem to do things properly. This too shall pass and it will be bussiness as usual, or at least until it rears its ugly head in the tourist sector once again.
Here is the story of the Venezuelan.

Government promulgates decree to regulate the sale of methanol



The Government announced today the promulgation of Decree No. 275-21 with the purpose of controlling the importation and commercialization of methanol and other precursors.

鈥淲ith this we take a decisive step in the fight against an illicit practice that, for the first time, has been confronted with the political will that an issue of this magnitude requires. This is a hallmark of this administration, 鈥漵aid Ito Bisono, Minister of Industry and Commerce at a press conference at the National Palace.

Bison贸 emphasized that 鈥渘one of this will have a favorable and lasting effect if we do not have the support of the population, of their prudence and awareness of what they acquire and consume. lifetime".

The head of the MICM warned that 鈥渢o those who make and commercialize adulterated alcohol, we are behind you to continue dismantling and stopping this deadly practice, and we tell you to think about your family who is also at risk.

Illicit alcohol, a global problem

According to information provided by the government, the World Health Organization estimates that, globally, 27.7% of alcohol consumption is illicit, which hits African and Eastern European countries, as well as much of Latin America.

Already in 2017, it was alerted that in Latin America 15% of the alcoholic beverages consumed were illegal, with countries such as Mexico, Ecuador and Bolivia in the lead; and where our country also appeared in that ranking. For the year 2020, only in the first four months, 247 people died as a result of the consumption of beverages adulterated with methanol in the country. Similarly, countries such as Peru (21 deaths), Costa Rica (43 deaths) and Mexico (+100 deaths) also had similar problems with adulterated alcohol in 2020.

Called to conscience

"Our commitment to guarantee the safety of consumers and this important sector of the national industry, extending our invitation to citizens, the media and all social actors to fight together to eradicate this problem and build a safer country for everyone, 鈥漵aid Bison贸.

"We intensify the fight against the illicit trade and especially the sale of adulterated alcohol, because we do not want anyone else to enter the statistics of fatalities due to this unconscious practice that extinguishes the lives of our people."

I am told that colmados are finding it hard to purchase spirits from intermediaries at present such is the focus on controlling adulterated alcohol.

127 people have died from adulterated alcohol poisoning



Deaths from methanol poisoning rose 127, while those affected totaled 326.

Since February, the Attorney General's Office and the Ministry of Defense seized 2,141 gallons of different types of adulterated alcohol and dismantled four factories in Barahona, Invivienda, Guerra and Los Llanos, San Pedro de Macor铆s.

In addition, some 400 businesses have been intervened in different parts of the national geography, commercial activities in 8 establishments have been suspended, two of these factories located in San Francisco de Macor铆s, 7,166 bottles of rum and whiskey of different sizes and brands have been seized, labeled and listed. for distribution and marketing.

鈥淥nly in the Los Botados operation, Municipality of Cabral, in Barahona province, the largest volume of all was seized, totaling 1,303 gallons; this is an equivalent to 12,248 bottles; In total, 34 people have been imprisoned, for which we hope that the sanctions established in the current legal framework will be applied, 鈥漵aid the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Ito Bison贸 at a press conference at the National Palace.

Part of the decree which makes sense to stop these rogue companies using methanol in drinks:

Dominican Republic will change the taste of methanol



The Dominican Government announced on Wednesday the obligation to apply an unpleasant taste to methanol, after this toxic alcohol caused 127 deaths in April due to the consumption of rums and other adulterated spirits.

From now on, importers will have to put in methanol, and in other alcohols that are not suitable for consumption, a concentration of denatonium benzoate, a substance with a bitter taste that is often used in the industry to prevent the ingestion of materials. toxic.