Punjab: Behind the tragedy, spurious chemical-laced liquor

While it is illegal to brew liquor at home or without license, the country-made liquor, at times distilled in cookers, carries a colourful reputation and is often used as gift for friends, guests, officers and ven political leaders in the state.

4 min readAmritsarAug 2, 2020 10:26 PM IST

The country made liquor is also manufactured in distilleries. It is considered illicit when the makers sell it without paying the excise duty.

Country-made liquor or ‘ghar di sharaab’ remains a much glorified subject in the Punjabi society with several songs being woven around it. While it is illegal to brew liquor at home or without license, the country-made liquor, at times distilled in cookers, carries a colourful reputation and is often used as gift for friends, guests, officers and ven political leaders in the state.

The country made liquor is also manufactured in distilleries. It is considered illicit when the makers sell it without paying the excise duty.

However, the tragedy that has been unfolding in Punjab since Wednesday and which has already led to deaths of 98 people took place due to consumption of spurious liquor.

Denatured spirit used

Instead of first making ‘Lahan’ and then going through distillation, as is done in the case of country-made liqour, the modus operandi in recent tragedy was to use denatured spirit to create ‘liquor’. In this process, the brewers add some chemicals and water to dilute denatured spirit to make it consumable. A huge quantity of liquor is manufactured at low cost in almost no time.

According to the Excise Commissioner, though reports of the chemical analysis of the material seized in Saturday’s raids were yet to come, a superficial check showed that the material was denatured spirit, generally used in paint and hardware industry.

What went wrong

The accused, as per the sources, had been mixing water into denatured spirit along with some chemicals at room temperature. A change in the composition of the denatured spirit owing to addition of chemicals and water may produce methanol.

On consumption, methanol changes into formic acid inside the body. The accumulation of formic acid adversely affects various organ systems. Methanol poisoning can result in death within few hours if not treated immediately. In case it is consumed in low quantity, methanol can cause partial or permanent blindness.

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Low vision and temporary blindness emerged as common symptoms among those who had consumed the spurious liquor but survived.

Tilak Raj, a contractual employee of the Batala Municipal Corporation, said he felt uneasy after drinking the spurious liquor. “The liquor was yellowish in colour. After I drank it, I was not able to see properly and felt uneasiness,” he said. He survived as his family immediately took him to the doctor.

“Now, I am feeling slightly better but my vision has not improved and I am feeling giddy,” the 50-year-old said.

Similar Tragedies

In February 2019, around 100 people had died in Haridwar of Uttrakhand and Saharanpur and Khushinagar of Uttar Pradesh after drinking spurious liquor made with denatured spirit. The accused had secured high quantity of denatured spirit from open market.

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Denatured spirit is also used in hospitals. Three persons had died in Kerala in 2017 after they stole denatured spirit from hospital, made liquor with it and consumed it.

Low price

Due to heavy excise duty on legal liquor, the sale of spurious liquor is flourishing.

Tilak Raj, who lives in Hathi Gate area of Batala that has reported several deaths, said he bought the bottle of liquor for Rs 60. “A bottle same size at government approved vend comes for Rs 120,” he said.

Besides, illegal liquor packed in plastic bags is available at prices as low as Rs 10.

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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