11 Cambodian villagers died after drinking rice wine suspected to be toxic during a funeral, said a police officer yesterday, adding to the kingdom’s growing recent death toll from unsafe homemade alcohol.

In the past two months, more than 30 people have died in three separate incidents across Cambodia from home-brewed rice wine containing methanol – a highly toxic liquid that can cause blindness if ingested.

Since Friday, 11 people who attended a funeral in coastal Kampot province – about 155km from the capital Phnom Penh – died while 10 more were hospitalised after imbibing homemade wine.

“The victims suffered dizziness after drinking the liquor,” a police officer told AFP, adding that samples were collected for investigation.

Homemade rice wine, which is popular in rural Cambodia at wedding parties, village festivals and funerals, is regarded as a cheap alternative to commercially produced drinks.

However, there is little regulation of the informal brewers, and headlines regularly pop up of mass deaths from a single celebration or village event.

Last month, at least 15 rice wine brewers and sellers were arrested, while the health ministry has renewed calls for people to avoid drinking contaminated beverages. – AFP, July 4, 2021.