Assessment of Homemade Liquor “Tharra” Quality by GC-FID and its Potential Impacts on Human Health

Abstract

The unsafe use of alcohol causes many diseases that lead to social and economic burden in societies. In Pakistan due to limited access, inflated prices of standard alcohol and ban on use of alcoholic products for Muslims, the illegal Liquors "Tharra" production at domestic level is on the rise. The liquor (Tharra) contain many impurities and is often injurious to health. This study examines the impact of consumption of unsafe liquor on socioeconomic and health context in Pakistan by using primary data obtained through filling of suitably designed questionnaires and finding out quality of homemade liquor samples collected from local Bathas. The data was collected by taking representative samples consisting of males from age groups 14 to onwards. The participants were enrolled using CAGE (screening tool. Our data revealed that majority of middle age group (57%) was involved in liquor "Tharra" drinking (36-45 years and 26-35 years). More participants (63%) were found representing Hindu religion, followed by Muslims (31%) with few Christian (5%) in the studied area. Almost in all samples the alcoholic strength exceeded by safe volume limit (20%). All other analyzed constituents of the samples (e.g.methanol, acetaldehyde, higher alcohols, esters, metals, anions) were found in concentrations that poses serious threat to public health. It seems impossible for the government to subsidize its prices or lift ban on the use and purchase of standard alcohol products due to social and religious reasons. However, the government needs to reinforce the laws governing sale of methylated spirits for industrial and commercial use.

Full text

Assessment of Homemade Liquor “Tharra” Quality by GC-FID
and its Potential Impacts on Human Health
UZMA IMRAN*, AWAIS ANWAR CHANDIO*, JAMIL AHMED SOOMRO*, HARESH KUMAR**,
AND RAFI-U-ZAMAN BROHI**
RECEIVED ON 09.02.107 ACCEPTED ON 29.05.2017
ABSTRACT
The unsafe use of alcohol causes many diseases that lead to social and economic burden in societies. In
Pakistan due to limited access, inflated prices of standard alcohol and ban on use of alcoholic products
for Muslims, the illegal Liquors “Tharra” production at domestic level is on the rise. The liquor
(Tharra) contain many impurities and is often injurious to health. This study examines the impact of
consumption of unsafe liquor on socio-economic and health context in Pakistan by using primary data
obtained through filling of suitably designed questionnaires and finding out quality of homemade liquor
samples collected from local Bathas. The data was collected by taking representative samples consisting
of males from age groups 14 to onwards. The participants were enrolled using CAGE (screening tool.
Our data revealed that majority of middle age group (57%) was involved in liquor “Tharra” drinking
(36- 45 years and 26 – 35 years). More participants (63%) were found representing Hindu religion,
followed by Muslims (31%) with few Christian (5%) in the studied area. Almost in all samples
the alcoholic strength exceeded by safe volume limit (20%). All other analyzed constituents of the
samples (e.g.methanol, acetaldehyde, higher alcohols, esters, metals, anions) were found in
concentrations that poses serious threat to public health. It seems impossible for the government to
subsidize its prices or lift ban on the use and purchase of standard alcohol products due to social and
religious reasons. However, the government needs to reinforce the laws governing sale of methylated
spirits for industrial and commercial use.
Key Words: Alcohol, Illegal Liquor, CAGE Screening Tool, Liver Profile.
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1. INTRODUCTION
“Tharra” is an illegally made local alcohol with a very low
quality and is fermented from any fruit that has a high
sugar content, including sugarcane, orange, banana,
pineapple, and palm; carrying many impurities and is often
injurious to health. In the scientific literature, different
definitions of the term ‘alcohol quality’ have been
reported, which may lead to misunderstanding; and hence
it is important to define the term appropriately whenever
used [1]. We therefore define the term ‘alcohol quality’ as
the ‘lower quality’ of homemade unrecorded alcohol, to
Corresponding Author (E-Mail: jamilahmed.uspcasw@faculty.muet.edu.pk)
* US-Pakistan Center for Advanceed Studies in Water, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro,
** Instituteof Environmental Engineering & Management, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro.

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Assessment of Homemade Liquor “Tharra” Quality by GC-FID and its Potential Impacts on Human Health
be called as “tharra” in this article, in terms of its impacts
related with public health and socioeconomic status of
drinkers and is interpreted as ‘more toxic’ as compared to
the commercially available alcohol products of similar kind
which are generally approved for its toxicity and taste
quality characteristics through standard procedures.
Hence further narrowing the above illustrated definition,
we have limited the term alcohol quality to the measure of
volatile compounds detected through GC (Gas
Chromatography) with FID (Flame Ionization Detection)
technique in as-collected samples of tharra without taking
into its manufacturing process and/or the time differences
of its manufacturing, storage, consumption and laboratory
detection into account.
The WHO’s global disease burden report shows that the
alcohol is the leading cause of disability worldwide among
which about 140 million people in the world are dependent
on alcohol [2]. The unsafe use of alcohol causes many
diseases that lead to social and economic burden in
societies. In addition to the acute health problems that
include acute liver damage, gastric problems, toxicity
effect on nervous system; the alcohol consumption may
cause coma with immediate death and unintentional
injuries such as burns, falls, firearm injuries, drowning,
child neglect cases, unprotected sex transferring sexually
transmitted diseases (HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B-C,
Syphilis).While, those who drink large amounts of alcohol
over a number of years may develop chronic diseases
e.g. liver cirrhosis, cancer, neurological impairment,
cardiovascular diseases (Hypertension, Myocardial
infarction).
The GC-FID has been used for the investigation of
influence of mycotoxins on the presence of aldehydes
and higher alcohols in corn distillates, identification of
volatile compounds responsible for the spirit’s aroma in
Thai spirit made of sticky rice [3], determination of volatile
compounds (methanol, acetaldehyde, higher alcohols) in
homemade (unrecorded) spirits of Lithuania and Hungary
[1] and in other studies for the determination of volatile
compounds in vodka [4], rum [5], cachaça (a distilled spirit
made from sugarcane juice) [6-7], spirits, whiskey and
Chinese medicinal liqueur [8-9]; and for the determination
of aromatic compounds in Tequila [10], volatile
compounds in spirits made from oranges [11], pear
distillates [12], Mulberry spirit [13], fruit based spirits
(brandy) [14] as well as for the determination of ethanol
content in brandy [15], cider [16-17] and homemade liquors
in Vietnam [18].
Various studies have been conducted to find the causes
responsible for people to use the dangerous locally made
liquor. A study by WHO (World Health Organization)
found that alcohol contributes to 5.9% of all global deaths
annually and overall 200 diseases and health conditions.
In various parts of the world, alcohol drinking is a common
feature of social gatherings [2].A study on alcohol
consumption in Uganda found that unemployment and
poor economic conditions were responsible for use of
alcohol [19] it was also reported in the article that more
and more young people are starting to use alcohol at
lower age. The study also found very low trend of smoking
and alcohol consumption in females due to age, culture
and regional social customs [19].
Another study conducted in Pakistan reported the female
involvement in cigarette smoking as 5% while the
remaining 95% were reported with no smoking habit at
all. Similarly, only 2.5% female population used alcohol
while 97.5% never used alcohol at all. On contrary, the
caffeine intake in the region was reported prevalent in
female population as compared to cigarette smoking and
alcohol consumption. The study reported that 95% pre
term females took caffeine and a small share of 5% did not
[20].

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An Indian study reported that the cultural differences
strongly influenced the pattern of alcohol use, and further
pointed out that alcohol consumption was associated
with the group of diseases whose impact on overall global
burden of diseases is anticipated to increase [21].
Similarly, in a multinational study in Europe, the results
showed that almost 36% of unrecorded alcohol products
were homemade brew containing toxic level of flavoring,
methanol and contained 60% alcohol by volume [22].
Several studies have been conducted on the
determination of alcohol quality and its volatile
composition in the scientific literature till today.
Lechenmeire et. al. [18] determined alcoholic strength,
volatiles (methanol, acetaldehyde, higher alcohols), ethyl
carbamate, anions (including nitrate) and inorganic
elements (including lead) from alcohol products sold in
markets of Lithuania and Hungary and found the higher
alcohol concentrations of 60% by volume in unrecorded
alcohol products [1]. Similarly, in another study in
Vietnam, a homemade sample of alcohol with pickled
snakes and scorpions contained 77% volume of alcohol,
76.7% vol. of ethanol, 75 g/hL pure alcohol of methanol,
13 g/hL pure alcohol of acetaldehyde, 12 g/hL pure alcohol
of ethyl acetate [23].
The reported alcohol consumption in Pakistan is very
low (2-5% of the population), which is presumed as
‘under reported’ because of strong religious obligations
and strict country law over alcohol consumption for
Muslims (i.e. 96% of country’s population is Muslim)
[2]. The law forbids Muslims to purchase, transport,
and possess beverages containing alcohol. However
non-Muslims are entitled with special permit to buy liquor
from three main registered brewers that prepare various
types of wines within the country. Due to above
mentioned restrictions on access, purchase, transport
etc. the (unreported) homemade brew production is on
the rise in the country [24].
The homemade liquor “Tharra” contains methanol mix
liquor which is quite toxic and the licensed alcohol
contains more quantity of ethanol which is safe as
compared to methanol. In Sindh province of Pakistan,
the fatalities due to consumption of homemade liquor are
mostly reported by media from time to time mainly from
districts Umerkot and Mirpurkhas. However, there is no
research work done on this much neglected topic.
Therefore, this work will contribute towards the analysis
of the quality of tharra and its impact on the human health
and socioeconomic life of the consumers in selected
districts of Sindh province, Pakistan.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the impacts of
tharra on consumer’s health and socioeconomic life in
Mirpurkhas and Umerkot districts of Sindh province of
Pakistan.
2. MATERIALS AND METHOD
2.1 Sampling and Analysis of Liquor
For the determination of homemade liquor “tharra” quality
of the volatile compounds, i.e. methanol, ethanol,
propanol, butanol and isobutanol, twenty samples of
tharra were collected from both the districts of Mirpurkhas
(n=10) and Umerkot (n=10). The samples were received in
the plastic bags, which were then poured into the 500 mL
plastic bottles which were washed with distilled water
and dried at room temperature. The sample bottles were
transported to the laboratory of Institute of Environmental
Engineering and Management, Mehran University of
Engineering & Technology,Jamhsoro, Pakistan within 3
hours where the samples were immediately refrigerated at
4oC. The volatile components of the samples were then
analyzed on the basis of the European Community
Reference Methods for the Analysis of Spirits using GC
with a FID technique [25]. The GC-FID model used for the
analysis was GC-2010 Plus, Schimadzu Japan. The
concentrations of 10, 15, 20, and 25% of each standard

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Assessment of Homemade Liquor “Tharra” Quality by GC-FID and its Potential Impacts on Human Health
compound (volume up to 2mL) were prepared in
acetonitrile solvent (99-100% by volume) [4]. The mixture
was shaked and 2µL volume was injected to GC. Similarly,
all the samples of tharra were analyzed directly on GC by
setting the initial column oven temperature at 50oC held
for 1 min. with ramp temperature of 10-15oC held for 3 min,
the detector temperature was set at 220oC. The nitrogen
was used as mobile phase with flow rate of 0.50 mL/min.
and the split ratio of 300:1. In FID detector, the hydrogen
gas flow rate of 40 mL/min and air flow rate of 400 mL/min
were set.
2.2 Socioeconomic and Health Impacts
Survey
This research was conducted by obtaining primary data
for analysis.For this purpose, a cross-sectional survey
was conducted in Mirpurkhas and Umerkot districts from
January to October 2016. A representative sample
consisting of one hundred and thirty (130) persons were
collected randomly from 10 identified places “Batha”
where tharrais being prepared and sold. Two teams were
constituted for data collection (2 persons in each team)
who had relevant understanding and knowledge of the
areas under survey for data collection. The teams were
also given brief training for filling of survey
questionnaires.
The participants were enrolled using Cutting down,
Annoyance by criticism, Guilty feeling, and Eye-openers
(CAGE) screening tool [26]. The tool was designed to
identify those indicating alcohol problem. Those
participants who were found to be qualified on CAGE
tool were considered as ‘relevant population’, and were
studied further, but those who didn’t qualify on CAGE
score were excluded from our study.
In the second part, we interviewed people visiting bathas
(wine shops) for buying tharra. A structured questionnaire
was designed to collect the data. The questionnaire
consisted of two types of questions regarding health and
socioeconomic conditions of tharra consumers.
The questions regarding health included information
regarding consumers’ illness, mental status and history
of consultation with healthcare provider, which is similar
to previous studies Rehm et. al [27-28]. The questions
about socioeconomic conditions included characteristics
of liquor consumers such as history and frequency of
tharra consumption, self-control, effect on family life, level
of education, family income, age, religion and faith of the
respondents.
The parameters studied included age, family income,
religion, level of education, age at first drink, frequency
of drinking, amount and duration of drinking, health
effects on drinking, desire for quitting and biomarkers.
SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 22.0
was used for social data analyses.
2. 4 Blood Sampling from Liquor Consumers
The blood samples of the participants were collected to
assess their liver profile. The blood was assessed at
pathology laboratory of the Civil Hospitals of the
respective sampling districts. Two tests from each blood
sample were conducted, the GGT (Gamma Glutamyl-
Transferase) test to know the status of recent alcohol
consumption and SGPT (Serum Glutamic-Pyruvic
Transaminase) to see the status of liver damage. The
data was analyzed on SPSS.The descriptive statistics was
used to assess the percentages and levels of significance.
The P values less than 0.05 were considered significant.
3. RESULTS
3.1 Analysis of Liquor Samples
The Linearity of calibration curves of eight organic volatile
compounds were evaluated by recording average peak
area/peak height against concentration and was observed

Assessment of Homemade Liquor “Tharra” Quality by GC-FID and its Potential Impacts on Human Health
Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering & Technology, Volume 36, No. 4, October, 2017 [p-ISSN: 0254-7821, e-ISSN: 2413-7219]
1029
in the range of 10-25% with split ratio of 300:1 with
coefficient of determination (R²) within 0.932 - 0.992. The
linear regression equations for each volatile organic
compound, based on calibration are given in Table 1.
3.2 Chromatogram of Mixed Compounds
The chromatogram of all the mixed eight compounds as
examined on GC is given in the figure below. The GC-FID
column TRB-5 at different programmed temperatures and
hydrogen flow rates was selected. The column flow rate
was set at 0.50 mL/min. Complete separation was achieved
between two nearby peaks. The total run time was 8.0
min. The split ratio was 300:1. The chromatogram of eight
mixed organic volatile compounds is shown in Fig 1.
The volatile compounds (in percent) in tharra samples
obtained from both the districts are given in Tables 2-3.
Methanol was detected in concentrations ranging from
undetectable to 59.5±3.9% in S8 of Tharra obtained from
Mirpurkhas district, while the methanol concentrations
sdnuopmoC emiTnoitneteR )setunim( egnaRnoitarbilaC )%( noitanimreteDfotneiciffeoC R(
2
)noissergeRraeniL noitauqE
lonahtE1.452,02,51,018769.0=²R087751+x25564=y
lonahteM0.452,02,51,014149.0=²R24156+x8
874=y
lonatuB7.452,02,51,016979.0=²R1235+x4327=y
lonatubosI5.452,02,51,01539.0=²R44611+x84669=y
lonaporP3.452,02,5
1,01299.0=²R25707+x11306=y
lonaporP-22.452,02,51,01769.0=²R87751+x25564=y
edyhedlamroF0.552,02,51,01169.0=2R14302
-x32261=y
TABLE 1. CALIBRATION CURVES OF MIXED COMPOUNDS
FIG. 1. CHROMATOGRAM OF EIGHT MIXED VOLATILE COMPOUNDS

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Assessment of Homemade Liquor “Tharra” Quality by GC-FID and its Potential Impacts on Human Health
ranging from 36.74±1.55% in S3 to 89.28±3.4% in S10 was
detected from Tharra samples obtained from Umerkot
district. The detected concentrations of ethanol ranged
from 17.14-46.90 in five Tharra samples S1-S5 and
undetected in the remaining samples; concentration of
propanol was detected as 0.71 in only one of the sample,
that is, in S6; concentrations of ISObutanol was detected
in ranges from 0.87-3.28 in five samples S2-S6 and
undetected in the remaining samples obtained from
Mirpurkhas district. It was interesting to note that there
were no other volatile compounds detected other than
methanol in the Tharra samples obtained from Umerkot
district.
3.3 Socioeconomic and Health Conditions
The health and socioeconomic characteristics of
tharraconsumers were studied to assess the potential
health impacts and socioeconomic situation of
tharraaddicts. The data reflects that the majority of middle
age group (57%) was involved in tharra drinking (36-45
years and 26-35 years). More participants (63%) were
found representing Hindu religion, followed by Muslims
(31.5%) with few Christian (5.4%).The respondents were
mostly illiterate (46.2 %) or had education up to primary
level (28.5%).
dnuopmoCfoemaN 1S )%( 2S )%( 3S )%( 4S )%( 5S )%( 6S )%( 7S )%( 8S )%( 9S )%( 01S )%(
lonahteM DN )4.1( DN )0.7( DN )3.1( DN )4.1( DN )6.1( 02.94 )7.1( 32.85 )0.1( 5.95 )9.3( 52.74 )3.1( 36.42 )9.1(
lonahtE41.719.6402.1278.0409.64DNDNDNDNDN
lonaporP
detcet
eDtoNlonaporPosI
lonatuB
lonatuBosIDN24.036.082.082.378.0DNDNDNDN
edyhedlamroF detceteDtoN
etatecAlyhtE
DSR%ehtswohss
isehtneraPniseulaV,detceteDtoN=DN,elpmaS=S:etoN
dnuopmoCfoemaNz 1S )%( 2S )%( 3S )%( 4S )%( 5S )%( 6S )%( 7S )%( 8S )%( 9S )%( 01S )%(
lonahteM 19.97 )0.5( 81.38 )4.0( 47.63 )5
.1( 77.84 )4.3( 60.65 )3.0( 45.48 )1.2( 9.46 )6.1( 30.37 )1.1( 54.66 )4.0( 82.98 )4.3(
lonahtE
detceteDtoN
lonaporP
lon
aporPosI
lonatuB
lonatuBosI
edyhedlamroF
etatecAlyhtE
DSR%ehtswohssisehtneraPniseulaV,detceteDtoN=DN,elpma
S=S:etoN
TABLE 2. VOLATILE COMPOUNDS IN THARRA SAMPLES OBTAINED FROM DISTRICT MIRPURKHAS DISTRICT
TABLE 3. VOLATILE COMPOUNDS OF THARRA SAMPLES OBTAINED FROM DISTRICT UMERKOT DISTRICT

Assessment of Homemade Liquor “Tharra” Quality by GC-FID and its Potential Impacts on Human Health
Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering & Technology, Volume 36, No. 4, October, 2017 [p-ISSN: 0254-7821, e-ISSN: 2413-7219]
1031
Overall the economic status of tharra drinkers was poor
(91% monthly family income below <PKR 30,000). Most
of the tharra consumers’ age at their first intake was
reported above 19 years (40%), however ample number of
participants (14%) started drinking at early ages (i.e. below
19 years). We further explored that one glass intake (i.e.
58%) of tharra was common among consumers, although
around 28% preferred consuming two glasses on tharra
each time when they drink. The history of recent intake of
tharra was more pronounced (i.e. tharra consumed ‘last
night’ 38%) as compared to occasional drinking or on
some social events such as marriages, pilgrimages, fairs,
and/or families and friends ‘gatherings.
Majority of the participants (i.e. 67%) were of the view
that they drink as part of their habit(s) to satisfy their
addiction, however a noticeable number of participants
(i.e. 33%) also reported to drink to get relief from the
distress or sorrows. Surprisingly, the majority of tharra
addicts showed desire to quit drinking it, however they
found it very challenging.
Almost half of the subjects reported to live in isolation or
had distanced themselves from their social network. The
tharra intake was mainly influenced by peer pressure (i.e.
69%). The participants also documented frequent family
quarrels due to their drinking habits, as shown in Table 4.
The results from the aspect of socio-economic conditions
for drinking locally made unsafe liquor showed a clear
trend. Almost 90% of people surveyed tend to drink due
to social or peer pressure. They used to drink when they
wanted or wished. But, survey showed that 92% of the
people did not go to doctor for check-up without realizing
the harmful impacts of consuming unsafe liquor “tharra”
on their health. This showed that low education,
backwardness and lack of awareness were main socio-
economic causes of the use of tharra. Also, the majority
of people (60%) did not enjoy drinking and drank for
minimizing the sufferings and hardships and to escape
pains which life offered to them. We found statistically
significant difference (P = 0.05) in frequency of tharra
drinking by type of religion.
The pattern of tharra consumption showed that Muslim
respondents usually drink on daily basis, contrary to this,
most of the Hindus drink alternatively, while some also
drink regularly or after three days or even fair number of
respondents do so on weekly basis (Fig. 2).
Almost 35% respondents complained of deterioration in
health after drinking as shown in Fig. 3.
In Table 5, we tried to compare respondents’ desire for
giving up drinking by age. The results explored that more
people (i.e. 73.8%) wanted to give up drinking. Among
those who wanted to give up drinking tharra, the majority
of people having age above 36 wanted to quit drinking as
compared to the rest of the other drinkers. Almost all
participants with age group 36-45 years wished to give
up drinking tharra as compared to very few within the age
group 14-25 years showing similar desire.
3.4 Potential Health Impacts
Another result obtained in this study pertains to
evaluation of impact on health due to consumption of
unsafe liquor as shown in Table 6.
The mean age of tharraconsumers were 32±5. The mean
duration of drinking tharra was 12.7 years.
In order to assess the status of liver function and
frequency of tharra intake, we did standard laboratory
investigation of each participant for SGPT and GGT tests.
The results confirmed that the majority (80%) of the
participants’ SGPT and GGT were elevated than the
required standard normal ranges, which means biomarkers
(SGPT and GGT) confirmed that most of the subjects were
found as chronic drinkers of tharra; and as a result of
toxic nature of tharra, their livers were inflamed or injured
(as in Hepatitis). Majority of participants had SGPT
ranging between 71-130 IU/L and above 200 IU/L, while
GGT ranging above 200 IU/L in 42.3% of the participants.
The GGT test also gave the clue of history of heavy
drinking of tharra as shown in Table 6.

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Assessment of Homemade Liquor “Tharra” Quality by GC-FID and its Potential Impacts on Human Health
sremusnoCfoscitsiretcarahC )031=n( ycneuqerF tnecrePsremusnoCfoscitsiretcarahC )031=n( ycneuqerF tnecreP
?gni
knirddetratsuoydidegatahwtA ?knirduoyodhcumwoH
91-41425.81ssalG1675.85
03-91>250.04sselssalG2637.72
54-03>243.23sselss
alG2>818.31
54>212.9 reepoteudgniknirddetratsuoyoD ?erusserp
?knirdtsaluoydidnehW seY092.96
thgintsaL947.73oN031.32
oga
syadowT539.62 potsotnehwlortnocevahuoyoD ?gniknird
ogasyadeerhT122.61seY031.32
ogasyaD7-4916.41oN0019.67
ogasyaD7>66.4?gn
iknirdretfallinellafreveuoyevaH
?knirduoyodyltneuqerfwoH seY644.53
yliaD546.43oN486.46
yadetanretlA637.72 gniknirdr
ofrotcodtlusnocuoyoD ?eussidetaler
retalsyadeerhT024.51seY620.02
ylkeeW923.2oN4010.08
ssertsidmorffeilertegotknirdu
oyoD ?ssenippahnudna latoT0310.001
SEY341.33 retfaylimafhtiwslerrauqevahuoyoD ?gniknird
ON789.66seY796.47
ssertsidmor
ffeilertegotknirduoyoD ?ssenippahnudna oN334.52
seY341.33?gniknirdpuevigottnawuoyoD
oN789.66seY698.37
?noitcaretnila
icostuohtiweviluoyoD oN432.62
seY765.15noitacudefoleveL
oN365.84noitacudeoN062.64
noigileR yramirP735.82
milsuM145.13noita
lucirtaM916.41
udniH281.36etaidemretnI99.6
naitsirhC74.5rolehcaB33.2
egA evobadnaretsaM25.1
sraey52-41728.02emocniylimaF
sra
eY53-62432.62000,01<3433
sraeY54-63048.03000,03-000,01674.85
sraeY06-64818.31000,08-000,1399.6
sraeY16>115.8000,08>225.1
TABLE 4. HEALTH AND SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF LIQUOR”THARRA” CONSUMERS

Assessment of Homemade Liquor “Tharra” Quality by GC-FID and its Potential Impacts on Human Health
Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering & Technology, Volume 36, No. 4, October, 2017 [p-ISSN: 0254-7821, e-ISSN: 2413-7219]
1033
4. DISCUSSION
4.1 Quantitative Determination of
Homemade Liquor(Tharra)
From the earlier researches, major toxic effects of ethanol
have been reported as acute intoxication and poisoning
also causing more than 50 disease conditions including
esophageal cancer [26,29]. No safe levels have been
reported in any studies while ‘low risk’ drinking guidelines
have been reported [22]. On the other hand, fatal
poisoning and blindness was reported by Kruse due to
methanol toxicity [30]. The maximum tolerable
concentration of 2% methanol by volume was reported
Paine et.al. [31]. They also reported that 5% methanol:
95% ethanol can cause severe and even fatal illness.
Hence, it can be generalized that all the detected samples
can cause severe and even fatal illness except the samples
gniknirdpuevigottnawuoyoD egA
sraeY52-41sraeY53-62sraeY54-63sraeY06-64sraeY16>latoT
stnednopseRfo.oN21420461469 z%8
.37
)%(seY%2.9%5.81%8.03%3.21%1.3
stnednopseRfo.oN6010117 43 %2.62
)%(oN%6.4%7.7%0.0%5.8%4.5
)stnednopseRfo.oN(latoT81430472110
31 %0.001
latoT%8.31%2.62%8.03%8.02%5.8
TABLE 5. COMPARISON OF DESIRE FOR GIVING UP DRINKING BY AGE
FIG. 2. COMPARISON OF FREQUENCY OF LIQUOR
“THARRA” INTAKE BY RELIGION
FIG. 3. ANALYSIS OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY

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Assessment of Homemade Liquor “Tharra” Quality by GC-FID and its Potential Impacts on Human Health
S1-S5 obtained from Mirpurkhas district. We therefore
conclude that further detailed evaluations must be made
on reporting the manufacturing processes of all types of
homemade alcohols “tharra” from both the studied areas
in future and the risk assessment studies should be
conducted through cohort studies on human population
consuming tharra.
4.2 Socioeconomic and Health Determinants
of Liquor Consumers
In our study the mean age of the tharraconsumers was
around 32±5, similar to studies by Butt and Chaudhary
[24,32] who reported range between 30±40 and 31±5 years
respectively in contrast to our findings. A study in
Pakistan reported the mean age ranges between 25±5 years.
The difference could be because the later study focused
only hospital indoor patients diagnosed with alcohol
toxicity whereas we considered enrolling participants’
appropriateness from the place of purchase or distribution
[32].
Our study further explored that, most of the liquor
consumers, drink tharra on daily basis (37.7%) as
compared to a similar kind of study in other province of
Pakistan named Punjab and in Nepal [32-33] showed
similar trends of 40% and 38% respectively, however our
findings vary from the studies conducted in India and
Tanzania where the homemade liquor consumption was
reported as 48and 14.7-47 % respectively [33-34].
Almost 69% of tharra consumers in our study had started
drinking due to peer pressure, which is more or less similar
to studies in Tanzania, India and Bangladesh [33-34]. Peer
pressure, indirect or direct inspiration from friends, family
colleagues especially of same age group is considered
very important influencing factors that may involve
persons in risky activities/behaviors such as alcohol use,
tobacco use and drug use. Moreover, peers contribute
significantly in providing introducing or pressuring risky
activities i.e. the use of homemade (unsafe) liquor to other
peers [2]. In our study, we witnessed 69% of the
respondents who started drinking due to peer pressure,
almost similar to studies conducted in Tanzania and
Bangladesh [33-34].
4.3 Blood Sampling Analysis
Our study biomarkers (SGPT and GGT) revealed that most
of the subjects (almost 80%) were found chronic
tharradrinkers and further the elevated SGPT in results
also suspected the cases of inflamed liver (Hepatitis). A
similar study was conducted in India, who reported around
70% cases with similar biomarkers findings and is
inconsistent with the studies [23,33]. The difference could
be due to difference in study setting and methodology.
One local study has been done at single study setting
and had used BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) to
assess illegal alcohol (tharra) concentration [32]. The BAC
is very good biomarker for measurement of blood ethanol
concentration present in regular alcohol brands rather
tluseRTPGS L/UI04-0:egnaRlamroN ycneuqerFtnecreP tluseRTGG )L/UI05-0:egnaRlamroN( ycneuqerFtnecreP
03-0310.0104-
0212.9
04-13212.905-14515.11
07-14728.0208-15417.01
031-17735.82031-1874.5
002-131418.01002-131728.02
002>728.02002>553.24
latoT0310.001l
atoT031001
TABLE6. BLOOD SAMPLES OF HOMEMADE LIQUOR(THARRA) CONSUMERS FOR SERUM GLUTAMIC-PYRUVIC
TRANSMINASEAND GAMMA GLUTAMYLTRANSFERASE

Assessment of Homemade Liquor “Tharra” Quality by GC-FID and its Potential Impacts on Human Health
Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering & Technology, Volume 36, No. 4, October, 2017 [p-ISSN: 0254-7821, e-ISSN: 2413-7219]
1035
than to measure methyl and other chemicals present in
homemade liquors, such tharra. We used SGPT and GGT
to measure how much alcohol has been drunk, may
estimate duration and the speed of drinking.
We found few limitations in our study. Firstly,
generalization of our results on tharrafor rest of the
country may need to be considered carefully as there
may be difference in social and cultural trends which
therefore may limit estimation of results in other parts.
Secondly, due to inadequate information we didn’t
consider alcohol prepared at home by group of people on
special events such as, eid days, holi, deewali, marriage
ceremonies etc., which mainly brought several causalities
from time to time as reported through media sources.
Finally, within our limited resources, we were able to collect
data from two districts of Sindh, hence a detailed and
multi settings study is highly recommended to explore
this area of high importance.
5. CONCLUSION
The use of illegal liquors “tharra” is on the rise in Pakistan,
mainly due to the difference in price between homemade
“tharra” and registered standard alcohol brands and due
to the ban on use and purchase of alcohol products for
Muslims in Pakistan. The tharra is very toxic-poison.
However, it seems impossible for the Government to
subsidize its prices or lift ban on use and purchase of
standard alcohol products due to social and religious
reasons. Nevertheless, the Government needs to reinforce
the laws governing sale of methylated spirits for industrial
and commercial uses.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors would like to thank US-Pakistan Centers for
Advanced Studies in Water, Mehran University of
Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro, Pakistan, for
providing full support throughout this project.
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