Distilled beverage

JAKARTA (Reuters) - More than 50 Indonesians have died and many have been become sick and hospitalised since last week after consuming homemade alcohol tainted with various ingredients including mosquito repellent, authorities said on Tuesday.

Police have detained at least 12 men in the capital, Jakarta, and a neighbouring province on suspicion of making and selling the liquor.

Consumption of spirits has become a problem for Greece, as 10 per cent of the country's population is completely dependent on alcohol, BNT reported. This percentage is considered to be high compared to other European countries, according to data from the World Health Organization. And they show regular alcohol consumption in the majority of the population of Greece.

An illegal distillery has been discovered in Fthiotida, central Greece, the Financial Crimes Squad (SDOE) said Tuesday. The distillery, which produced the grape-based tsipouro spirit, was located in a warehouse. Some 1,700 liters of tsipouro were seized at the site.

Officers also arrested the local owner of the distillery and two Albanian men who were working there.

Economic crimes officers have arrested 22 people and seized 12 tons of ethanol in a crackdown on two gangs that supplied dozens of Greek bars with counterfeit spirits, the Greek Police announced on Monday.

Traditional Greek spirits like raki, ouzo and tsipouro are attracting more drinkers in Greece as they are more affordable for those struggling financially due to the crisis, according to recent research which found that the cheaper spirits have also become the preferred drink among those suffering from alcoholism.

Tsipouro and raki producers risk losing their favorable tax status if Greece loses its battle at the European Court of Justice, following a referral on Wednesday by the European Commission.

The number of people who have died after drinking bootleg alcohol in the Aegean province of ?zmir has risen to 11, as three people hospitalized because of bootleg alcohol poisoning could not be saved.

Two tons of bottled bootleg alcohol have been seized in an operation against illegal alcoholic drink makers in the northwestern province of Tekirda?, in the latest development in Turkey's bootleg alcohol crisis that has left dozens dead.

For decades, there have been research papers upon research papers that point to one fact: Moderate drinking is good for your health. However, a new survey might put an end to that myth.

According to the British Medical Journal, earlier studies supporting health benefits of alcohol consumption may have exaggerated the effects.

Tourists in Bulgaria's Black Sea Sunny Beach resort consume the astounding 20 tonnes of alcoholic beverages per day, according to a survey of Bulgarian Telegraph Daily.