The Anthill is back in the news. But not because of the discomfort of the women invited to the program, nor because of Sofía Vergara’s dialectical victory on behalf of all of them. This time it is in the news for a scientific explanation that, as has happened on other occasions, has not been entirely accurate. This time it was not a motivational monologue Pablo Motosbut a Brown’s comment, who is precisely in charge of leading the science section. In this case, when talking about the methanolmade reference to the fact that it is the alcohol that is added to carboy in leisure venues.
Many people on social networks have been upset by the danger that this comment can entail in The Anthill. And it is true that methanol has been related to the jug on more than one occasion, but it is not the substance that is normally added to alcoholic beverages to make them cheaper. If this were the case, there would be many cases of deaths and blindnesssince it is a highly toxic compound for humans.
The problem of not point it out The thing is that, perhaps, someone who hears it and who has one of these stores might think that methanol is the most common way to prepare jug. You might think that, at most, the affected people will have a bad hangover, as usually happens with the jug in nightclubs. However, the consequences of consuming methanol are much more worrying, so it must be thoroughly explained.
Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, is the simplest of alcohols. That is, it is a chain of single carbon, in which there is an alcohol group, formed by an oxygen and a hydrogen. Furthermore, to complete the four bonds that can form in carbon (one is occupied by OH), it has three more hydrogens.
It is very flammable, which is why it is also known as burning alcohol, due to its use to light fires and as fuel. Furthermore, it is used as antifreeze and solvent in the chemical industry. It is very toxic, so its use in food is unthinkable.
Therefore, it is not the alcohol found in distilled or fermented beverages. In these, the alcohol present is ethanol, which has two carbons instead of one. This may seem like a minimal difference, but it is not. While ethanol is also toxic, hence the effects of drunkenness, it is much less dangerous than methanol. Our liver can metabolize it and the kidneys help remove it from the blood. Over time, and without the need for many drinks, illnesses can occur due to its consumption, but there is no direct poisoning.
What happens with the jug that they mention in The Anthill?
Generally, it is known as a jug. lower quality alcohol mix, in bottles of more expensive brands. This is usually done by mixing cheaper drinks with higher brand ones. In other cases, simply water is added, so what is done is to reduce the alcohol, selling it at the same price. With the first case, the hangover may be a little worse than usual. On the other hand, with the second the effects would be smaller, for obvious reasons. Both examples are scams, although they are not too dangerous.
Now, in some cases, what is done is to add small amounts of methanol, much cheaper than ethanol. This can occur unconsciously, due to improper distillation of alcoholic beverages, or intentionally, by deliberately adding it to drinks. In both cases, a highly toxic substance is being added to the drink that should not be consumed by humans, even in small quantities.
A dose of only 20 to 150 milliliters of methanol can be deadly. Additionally, it can cause blindness at even lower doses by directing some of its toxicity to the optic nerve.
The jug they talk about in The Anthill it is real. It is true that methanol has been and is used to adulterate beverages. And in fact there have been quite a few deaths from that. However, today it is very unusual.
Although it is estimated that in the 80s 30% of establishments in Spain used jugs of one type or another, currently it does not go beyond 1%-2%.
However, the most notorious case in our country occurred much earlier, in 1963. At that time 51 people died in Haría, Lanzarote, due to the consumption of liquor, coffee liquor, rum and vinegars adulterated with methanol in establishments in this town. In addition, there were 5 affected people who survived, but lost their sight.
In other countries, it is still something more common today. For example, in 2019 the case of a British girl was documented who went blind during a vacation in Greeceby drinking vodka adulterated with methanol.
In short, yes, the jug that Marron talked about in The Anthill It existed, it exists and, unfortunately, it most likely will continue to exist. But, luckily, today it is not the most common. We often use the term “garrafón” indistinctly to refer to the fact that a drink has made us feel bad, when perhaps they simply gave us the alcohol we ordered, without mixing it with anything. It is no longer common to mix ethanol with methanol, as it can be fatal. Therefore, it is important to clarify it. It is not about a bad drunk, but, in many cases, the difference between life and death.