Moonshine is a term for illicitly distilled spirits produced without governmental oversight. Unlike commercial alcohol, moonshine production lacks mandatory quality controls and testing to ensure a safe product for consumers. The entire process, from ingredients to final bottling, is unregulated, meaning there is no guarantee regarding the techniques or purity of the final spirit. This lack of supervision and the potential for amateur shortcuts creates a high risk of a potentially toxic product.
Identifying Methanol Contamination
The most immediate and severe danger in unregulated spirits is the presence of methanol, a type of alcohol that is highly toxic to the human body. Methanol is a natural byproduct of fermentation, particularly when using fruit mashes high in pectin, and it concentrates during distillation. While ethanol, the consumable alcohol, boils at about 173.1 degrees Fahrenheit, methanol boils at a lower temperature, around 148.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
This lower boiling point means that methanol is concentrated in the “foreshots,” the first portion of liquid that comes out of the still. Experienced distillers discard this initial fraction, but inexperienced or negligent producers may fail to separate it properly, leaving a deadly contaminant in the spirit. Once ingested, the liver metabolizes methanol into formaldehyde and then into formic acid, which poisons the body’s cells, causing severe damage to the central nervous system. As little as 10 milliliters of pure methanol can cause permanent blindness, and 30 milliliters can be fatal for an adult.
Visual and Sensory Warning Signs
Visually inspecting moonshine can offer basic clues, although it is not a definitive safety test against chemical contamination. Properly distilled, unaged spirits should be clear, so any cloudiness, visible particles, or abnormal colors, especially a blue or milky tint, should be a warning sign. While unflavored moonshine is typically colorless, an unusual shade in a supposedly clear spirit suggests impurities or the use of improper equipment.
Smell and taste offer further, though unreliable, indicators of a problem. Methanol is both colorless and odorless, making it nearly impossible to detect through basic senses. However, an extremely harsh, solvent-like, or chemical odor distinctly different from standard high-proof alcohol can suggest the presence of other volatile impurities, which are also concentrated in the initial distillate. A taste that is excessively sharp or burning beyond the expected heat of a high-proof spirit should cause immediate suspicion, but even clean-tasting illicit alcohol can be lethal.
Dangers from Still Construction Materials
Beyond methanol, improper still construction introduces a risk of chronic heavy metal poisoning from toxic materials leaching into the spirit. The use of lead solder to join copper pipes in a homemade still is a risk. When high-proof alcohol comes into contact with this solder, it can dissolve and carry the lead into the finished product.
Lead is a toxic heavy metal that accumulates in the body over time, causing neurological damage, memory loss, and decreased cognitive function. Furthermore, some illicit stills have been constructed using materials like galvanized steel, which can release zinc and other toxic compounds, or old car radiators, which may contain lead solder and antifreeze residues. These materials pose a long-term, cumulative health risk that is distinct from the acute toxicity of methanol.
Recognizing Poisoning and Emergency Steps
Methanol poisoning can initially mimic severe alcohol intoxication, making it difficult to recognize immediately after consumption. Symptoms often have a delayed onset, appearing 12 to 48 hours after drinking, as the body processes the methanol into toxic formic acid. Early signs may include vomiting, nausea, and severe abdominal pain, which progresses to confusion and lack of coordination.
The most specific and severe warning signs are related to vision, including blurred or decreased vision, the sensation of “snow blindness,” or complete loss of sight. If methanol poisoning is suspected, immediate medical intervention is necessary. Call emergency services and be honest about the consumption of illicit alcohol, as doctors can administer an antidote like fomepizole or ethanol to block the methanol’s toxic metabolism. Delaying treatment can result in permanent blindness, organ failure, or death.