Abstract
Four homemade (artisanally manufactured and unrecorded) and seven commercial (industrially manufactured and taxed) alcohol products from Vietnam were collected and chemically analyzed for toxicologically relevant substances. The majority of both types had alcohol contents between 30 and 40% vol. Two homemade samples contained significantly higher concentrations of 45 and 50% vol. In one of these homemade samples the labeled alcoholic strength was exceeded by nearly 20% vol. All other analyzed constituents of the samples (e.g., methanol, acetaldehyde, higher alcohols, esters, metals, anions) were found in concentrations that did not pose a threat to public health. A peculiarity was a homemade sample of alcohol with pickled snakes and scorpions that contained 77% vol of alcohol, allegedly used as traditional Chinese medicine. Based on this small sample, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that alcohol quality, beyond the effects of ethanol, has an influence on health in Vietnam. However, future research with larger samples is needed.
Highlights
The WHO has stressed the increasing importance of life-style related diseases for Vietnam [1]
All samples were screened for unknown substances using gas chromatography (GC) with mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
The only abnormalities were the homemade samples V09 (45.0% vol) and V10 (49.7% vol), as well as the notable snake/scorpionalcohol sample V11 with the highest strength of 76.7% vol From a public health perspective V10 appears to be the most troubling of the samples as the labeling gave an alcoholic strength of 30% vol, whereas 49.7% vol were contained in the sample - nearly 60% more alcohol than what was labeled, which could lead to severe intoxication and overdose [2]
Summary
The WHO has stressed the increasing importance of life-style related diseases for Vietnam [1]. Alcohol is an important risk factor for these disease categories [2]. Data from hospital statistics demonstrate a significant increase in alcohol-attributable diseases during the past decade, in alcohol-related psychoses usually linked with dependence [3]. Other population research studies have demonstrated that alcohol plays an important role in causing chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma [4,5]. According to a report of the Minister of Transportation on a recent National Workshop on “Alcohol and road accidents” 10% of road accidents in Vietnam were caused by alcohol. Alcohol was detected in the blood of 62% of road accident victims [6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
