As of this writing, over 100 persons have died from the consumption of clandestine liquors, called “Tapa Floja”(or Loose Cap), available in small colmados in many parts of the country. Other similar beverages are known as “clerén,” the Haitian word for bootleg rum.
Public Health Minister Dr. Rafael Sanchez Cardenas observed in the coronavirus press virus on Friday, 24 April on the high toxicity of the beverage: “I don’t know how these people have arrived alive to the emergency room.”
Methanol, which is deadly, is used in the formulation of several of these beverages. The National Police has been raiding point of sales and manufacturing sites to confiscate the clandestine liquor. The drink is sold at colmados where it is popular because of its low price in comparison to the cheapest bottles of legitimate liquor.
General Ney Aldrin Bautista told a radio and television audience that he is stunned by the fact that the people have not paid much attention to the number of fatalities reported or the warnings publicized in all of the local media. The fatalities continue to happen.
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N Digital
27 April 2020