New regulations regarding the sale and distribution of Methanol spirits will be enacted shortly as a safety measure following the deaths of several persons consuming illicit liquor made out of Methanol spirits.
Commissioner General of Excise, D.G.M.V. Hapuarachchi told the Observer Online that the Excise Department is planning to introduce new regulations to dilute methanol spirits before issuing it to the industrial market as a safeguard against it being used by illicit liquor manufacturers who manufacture poisonous deadly liquor.
"We have proposed to the authorities that Methanol spirits should be mixed with Birtex, a substance used to dilute its potency so as to discourage illicit liquor manufacturers from purchasing it. "However, we have sought the advice of the Attorney General in this regard before new regulations are being framed. Several people have died due to consumption of illicit liquor made out of Methanol spirits," Hapuarachchi said.