SAO PAULO (AP) \u2014 Friday night was anything but typical at a bar near Paulista Avenue, one of Sao Paulo\u2019s busiest areas and a popular destination for tourists. Nearly every table was ordering beer, wine or draft beer but no cocktails.<\/p>\n
Edilson Trindade, the manager who has worked at the bar since 2018, told The Associated Press the establishment usually sells about 80 caipirinhas<\/a> \u2014 Brazil\u2019s<\/a> national cocktail made with cacha\u00e7a, lime, sugar and ice \u2014 each night. Last week, he didn\u2019t sell a single one. No other cocktails were ordered, either.<\/p>\n \u201cClients have been worried, and we\u2019re advising them it\u2019s better not to drink cocktails,\u201d Trindade said.<\/p>\n His concern reflects a nationwide unease over distilled beverages following a surge in methanol poisoning cases that has prompted police investigations, stoked public fear and altered drinking habits in recent days.<\/p>\n The Health Ministry said Friday it had confirmed 11 cases tied to alcoholic beverages and was investigating 116 suspected cases. One death was confirmed through lab tests in Sao Paulo, with eleven others under investigation. <\/p>\n Nearly all the cases have been reported in Sao Paulo, the country\u2019s most populous state and the epicenter of the outbreak. <\/p>\n Last week, local media reported deaths and hospitalizations linked to methanol-tainted alcohol. Some patients were admitted to intensive care with severe symptoms, including blindness.<\/p>\n One of them was the rapper Hungria, who has been hospitalized in Brasilia after possibly drinking altered alcohol. On Friday, he posted on his Instagram account that he was feeling better and would soon be discharged. <\/p>\n \u201cFriday has a different energy. If you feel thirsty, find a safe place to have a drink,\u201d the singer said.<\/p>\n Panic followed poisoning<\/p>\n Health Minister Alexandre Padilha urged Brazilians to avoid drinking, especially distilled beverages, which are more difficult to verify for adulteration. He described the situation as abnormal and noted that Brazil recorded 20 methanol poisoning cases in August and September, equal to its annual average.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a physician and health minister, I advise everyone to avoid distilled products, especially colorless ones, unless you\u2019re certain of their origin,\u201d Padilha said. \u201cThese are not essential items.\u201d<\/p>\n Warnings from authorities and doctors caused panic among many Brazilians. <\/p>\n Some establishments told customers they would temporarily suspend sales of distilled spirits. Customers swapped cocktails, such as the traditional Brazilian caipirinha, for fermented drinks. Other bars have changed their menu and started offering cocktail mixes without distilled beverages.<\/p>\n Jessica \u00c1vila, a 34-year-old cultural producer, was at the bar Trindade manages near Avenida Paulista Friday night, relaxing with friends but still feeling \u201cvery worried.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWith all these cases that keep coming up and more deaths being reported each day, it\u2019s alarming. I\u2019ve even seen well-known people being hospitalized,\u201d she said. \u201cRight now, I can\u2019t bring myself to drink any distilled spirits unless I have some assurance they\u2019re not counterfeit. I\u2019m sticking to beer.\u201d<\/p>\n Counterfeit business<\/p>\n There are three main types of alcohol: ethanol, methanol, and isopropanol. Ethanol is safe for consumption and is found in spirits. Isopropanol is used in sanitizers and rubbing alcohol. Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is used in fuel, antifreeze, and solvents.<\/p>\n Methanol poisoning can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, seizures, and even coma, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC advises immediate medical attention if poisoning is suspected.<\/p>\n Authorities have been inspecting bars and distributors suspected of selling contaminated products. \u201cWe have determined that methanol contaminated counterfeit alcoholic beverages. So we need to understand how,\u201d Artur Dian, chief of Sao Paulo police, told the AP.<\/p>\n Police still do not know whether the product contamination was intentional or accidental. Individuals who counterfeit spirits typically mix them with other substances to increase volume and profit, which may include methanol, he said. Another possibility is that the bottles were contaminated with the toxic substance.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile we know that small amounts do not contaminate and are not capable of causing health damage, we don\u2019t know the exact amount that might remain in a bottle, Dian said.<\/p>\n The Brazilian Association of Distilled Beverages said the illicit alcohol market is on the rise. A study by Euromonitor, commissioned by the association, found that adulterated beverages make up 28% of Brazil\u2019s market and are sold at prices 35% lower than legitimate products.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n