Prague – The Czech government approved a ban on sales of liquors containing more than 30 percent alcohol in stalls and markets in the whole country, following a series of deaths from drinking bootleg alcohol.


“Liquidation of alcohol supplies received from suspicious sources is the most reasonable step now,” Heger said.
The first three victims of the tainted alcohol died on September 6. According to the latest information, at least 15 persons have died of methanol (methyl alcohol) poisoning since then and about 30 others are treated in hospital.
The ban was declared indefinitely and its abolition will be declared on the public television and radio.
Heger called on the governors of the self-rule regions and the mayors of towns and municipalities to actively cooperate with the directors of regional sanitary offices who are responsible for the coordination of all steps taken by state bodies concerning issues related to the ban and methanol poisoning.
Hospitals should report all cases of suspected methanol poisoning, he said.
Earlier today, a crisis team was set up over the rising number of fatalities.
Policemen, sanitary officers and local self-rule authorities warn against drinking of tapped alcoholic beverages or liquors from unstamped bottles of unknown origin.
The source of the methyl alcohol is not known yet. Several hundred of checks in restaurants and other facilities were carried out on Monday and Tuesday.
Apart from the Czech victims, two people recently died after the consumption of alcohol of unknown origin in the Polish town of Kiel
Source: CESkenoviny