In many African societies, the consumption of alcohol poses a persistent health hazard, especially due to the popularity of Changaa - an illicit liquor that often contains harmful additives like Jet fuel and battery acid to increase fermentation. Methanol and faeces are also commonly used as contaminants for water used in making the drink. Thirteen people died in Nairobi in May 2010 after consuming illicit liquor containing methanol, propanol and ethanol. Despite its dangers, Changaa remains popular due to its affordability when compared with heavily-taxed bottled beer. Drinking Changaa has various negative effects ranging from blindness and psychological problems to HIV/AIDS spread, poverty and even death. Recent police raids on Changaa dens have uncovered decomposing rats and women's underwear served with the drink. The presence of methanol in drinks has been linked as a primary cause of
...blindness among drinkers; even small amounts can severely burn the optic nerve while larger quantities can result in fatal consequences. Individuals who consume Changaa are at increased risk of engaging in unprotected sex leading to HIV/AIDS transmission and contributing towards poverty where people prioritize buying alcohol over looking after their families. Many women in Muranga are disheartened by the detrimental impacts of inexpensive alcoholic beverages on their husbands and sons.
Young men who frequently spend all their earnings on alcohol often leave their families hungry. The brewing of certain drinks involves using fuel containing highly toxic substances such as lead, which can cause harm to vital organs like the heart, kidneys and brain. Lead poisoning may result in high blood pressure, mental retardation or even death. Furthermore, ethanol is also present in these drinks and its consumption ca
be poisonous causing blindness or fatality. Therefore, consuming changaa poses a potential risk to one's health. To address this issue, solutions must be identified. One of the possible solutions is conducting police raids on changaa dens leading to the destruction of significant amounts of drink and potential prosecution of brewers if caught; however corruption may pose a challenge making it harder to control drinking habits. Recently Kenyan MPs recommended alternative approaches for addressing this issue since owners selling Changaa also face indirect consequences such as disrupted sleep due to noisy customers.
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