Surrogate alcohol
Surrogate alcohol is a term for any substance containing ethanol that is intentionally consumed but is not meant for consumption. Most people turn to these as a last resort either out of desperation or being unable to afford consumable alcoholic beverages.
Common surrogate alcohols
Many alcoholic liquids contain alcohol but are not meant to be ingested in the same way as alcoholic beverages. Typical surrogate alcohols include:
- Hand sanitizer
- Mouthwash
- Aftershave or cologne
- Cleaning fluids such as Windex
- Extracts
- Charcoal lighter fluid
- Rubbing alcohol
- Windshield washer fluid
- Antifreeze
- Denatured alcohol – ethanol rendered unfit to drink by mixing with methanol or bittering agents
- Sterno
- Moonshine and other homemade alcohols, including two or more of the above mixed together
- Disinfectants
- Liquid soap
- Paint
Dangers to health
Most surrogate alcohols have very high alcoholic levels, some as high as 95%, and thus can lead to alcohol poisoning, along with other symptoms of alcohol abuse such as vertigo, impaired coordination, balance and judgment, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and even long-term effects such as heart failure and stroke.
Besides alcohol, there are many other toxic substances in surrogate alcohol such as hydrogen peroxide, antiseptics, ketones, as well as alcohols other than ethanol (drinking alcohol) such as isopropanol and methanol. Consumption of these can lead to internal hemorrhaging and scarring, ulcers, headaches, CNS depression, blindness, coma, and death.
Russia
Consumption of surrogate alcohol is a common problem in Russia, contributing to the high rate of alcohol-related deaths in the country.[1] During the Soviet regime, alcoholic beverages were often among the only consumer goods affordable for the general public, leading to rampant alcoholism which is still present in modern Russia. In 1985, Gorbachev instituted alcohol reform, attempting to fight widespread alcoholism by increasing prices and reducing availability. These changes, however, led to the formation of a black market for alcohol, including surrogates. The dissolution of the Soviet Union caused a further spike in alcohol prices, leading more people to cheaper surrogate alcohol.
In Venedikt Yerofeyev's 1970 samizdat novella Moscow-Petushki, the unreliable narrator shares recipes for a variety of cocktails made with surrogate alcohol.
See also
References
- ↑ "Russian 'surrogate' alcohols are a killer ( Heavy alcohol consumption contributes t...)". Bio-medicine.org. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2009.