Eleven dead, ten in critical condition after batch of homemade alcohol in Barranquilla, Colombia

Eleven people have died and ten others remain in critical condition after consuming a batch of homemade liquor in Barranquilla, Colombia, authorities said Friday. Early investigations point to methanol poisoning linked to cochoco, a cheap illicit mix that is often sold in reused plastic bottles for about 50 cents and consumed by the city’s most economically vulnerable residents.

Many of the victims were homeless individuals in Barranquilla who reportedly drank cochoco, a cheap cocktail that authorities say is sometimes tainted with methanol and other substances. The drink’s low price and informal distribution contribute to its accessibility in areas with high poverty rates. The alert began in the early hours of September 24, when Barranquilla police responded to a report of a man found unconscious on a street in the Boliche area. Paramedics confirmed the man, aged 47, had died, marking the first fatality in what would become a broader public health emergency.

Toxicologist Agustin Guerrero described the mounting severity as more patients arrived at hospitals in critical condition. He said the first four deaths prompted physicians to mobilize quickly after a patient transported by police arrived at the General Hospital of Barranquilla in a dire state from the Boliche neighborhood. As the night and morning progressed, additional patients exhibited similar symptoms, with some arriving without vital signs and others requiring advanced resuscitation and immediate transfer to intensive care.

By the next day, the toll had risen to 11 deaths, and ten more people remained in critical condition. The medical and police reports indicate that the liquor was produced under deplorable, unsanitary conditions, and investigators note that the person who manufactured the batch was among the dead. Guerrero cautioned that methanol poisoning can have an abrupt onset or appear hours after ingestion, complicating early detection. He explained that early symptoms often resemble severe drunkenness: intense headaches, stronger-than-usual hangovers, and general discomfort. As hours pass, patients may develop blurred vision, temporary or permanent blindness, light sensitivity, and metabolic acidosis, conditions that can endanger life without timely treatment.

In Colombia, cheap homemade liquor has long been a survival mechanism for people in extreme poverty, but illicit production increasingly relies on methanol instead of ethanol to stretch profits. Methanol is highly toxic to humans and is not suitable for consumption; it is distinct from ethanol, the primary alcohol in legally produced beverages. The case in Barranquilla underscores the broader risk posed by illicit brewers who operate in clandestine facilities and distribute contaminated products through informal networks. Health authorities are urging residents to avoid unverified bottles and to seek medical attention promptly if they experience severe symptoms after drinking alcohol.

The episode in Barranquilla follows a pattern seen in other parts of the world, where methanol poisoning has caused fatalities in counterfeit beverages. In Vietnam, for example, reports have cited deaths linked to adulterated limoncello, with investigations highlighting the dangers of methanol substitution and the need for adherence to food-safety regulations. Public health officials emphasize that methanol poisoning may be difficult to identify early and stress the importance of swift medical evaluation for anyone exhibiting sudden severe headaches, visual disturbances, or other acute symptoms after consuming alcohol.

Investigations into the Barranquilla case are ongoing. Police say the batch was produced and distributed under unsanitary conditions, with bottles reused and an illicit supply chain operating to maximize profit. Authorities have urged the public to refrain from consuming illicit liquor and to report suspicious products or sellers. Local health officials are coordinating medical care for victims and expanding outreach to vulnerable populations while pursuing leads to dismantle the criminal network behind the operation.

Barranquilla’s health secretariat has underscored the need for broader outreach and stricter enforcement against illicit brewers, while also advocating for increased access to safe, affordable beverages and social support services to reduce reliance on dangerous homemade brews. The case highlights the ongoing health risks posed by informal economies that provide cheap alcohol at the expense of public safety and call for robust public health responses to protect at-risk communities.