The Czech government will maintain a ban on all sales of liquor more than 20 percent alcohol despite heavy economic losses suffered by domestic spirits producers and sellers, local media said citing Health Minister Leos Heger.
The ban was imposed on Friday after at least 19 people died and 35 were hospitalized in serious condition in the course of the past week after drinking bootleg vodka and rum containing poisonous methanol.
It is the central European country's worst outbreak of alcohol-related poisoning in the last 30 years.
“Despite the debates around the subject, including the financial losses, we must consider health and safety of the population a top priority,” Heger said on Saturday.
“It is unlikely that the ban on hard liquor sales would be lifted in the next few days,” he said, adding that the number of poisoning victims may grow.
According to estimates, Czech spirits and restaurant industries lose some $10 million daily due to the ban.
Domestic producers and sellers criticize the government’s move claiming that it could only boost the sales of hard liquor on the “black market.”
The average consumption of hard liquor in the Czech Republic is 7 liters, which is dwarfed by beer consumption per capita at more than 140 liters.
