Adulterated alcohol Kills Seven In Morocco

Seven people have died after consuming adulterated alcohol in Meknes, central Morocco, Moroccan news agency MAP reported on Tuesday, adding that police have arrested two suspects.

A police source in the city of Meknes informed MAP that an inquiry was initiated after seven individuals died after consuming contaminated alcohol suspected of being obtained from a grocery store. 

According to the same source, investigations led to the arrest of a 67-year-old shopkeeper and his 17-year-old apprentice, who was accused of owning and selling contaminated alcoholic beverages that killed customers.

The authorities also seized around ten empty bottles containing  medicinal alcohol "which caused the victims' deaths."

This is not the first time something like this has happened in Morocco, but also in Tunisia and Algeria.

Last September, 19 people died after drinking tainted beer in Ksar El Kebir, a town in the kingdom's north.

Around twenty individuals died in Oujda, Morocco, in July 2021 after drinking contaminated beer.

In principle, Moroccan law forbids the selling of alcohol to Muslims, who constitute 99% of Morocco's population and are the national religion.

However, alcohol is widely available in pubs, restaurants, and licensed businesses that sell it behind opaque glass or heavy curtains.