The ingestion of locally-made liquor, known as “moonshine” in folklore, has killed 17 persons over the last week. No matter what it is called in the Dominican Republic (clerén, “Tapa Floja”, triculí) it is poison and the results are catastrophic. It is produced in the many barrios and countryside, with no controls as to the ingredients or sanitation of the process. Initial reports are that in the barrios of Pantoja and Girasoles, in the western part of Santo Domingo, and Brisas del Este in Santo Domingo East, there are 17 dead, including a father and son. Just last week, 10 persons have died from the intoxication with the illegal beverage. The Ministry of Public Health confirms 15 deaths.
Although the Francisco Moscoso Puello Hospital reported that the deaths were the result of ingesting the adulterated alcohol, in the case of the deaths in the Girasoles and Pantoja, the results of the autopsies have not been released, but anecdotal evidence reports that they had imbibed a product known as “Tapa Floja” which was purchased at a local colmado for RD$100.00.
According to the toxicology information from the Ministry of Public Health, methanol is used in the formula for the illegal beverage. Because of the low cost, consumption among the poor is widespread. Back in December of 2017, the Ministry of Public Health issued a health advisory alerting to hundreds of fatal incidents over the years.
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N Digital
Diario Libre
El Caribe
13 April 2020