Tagged:

Toxic Alcoholic Brew Blinds Hundreds in Rwanda

Rwandan authorities are raising the alarm over a surge in illicit alcohol consumption that has claimed over a dozen lives and left hundreds more facing severe health crises, including permanent vision loss. Police say the Eastern Province is the hardest hit, where local brews are frequently contaminated with methanol - a toxic industrial chemical.

The Rwanda Standards Bureau has dismantled illegal production sites and destroyed substandard batches, warning that even small amounts of methanol can lead to irreversible blindness, organ failure, and death.

While illicit brews attract attention for their acute toxicity, broader alcohol consumption in Rwanda is said to be on the rise. A survey by the Rwanda Biomedical Center shows that overall alcohol consumption prevalence increased from 41% in 2013 to 48% in 2022, reflecting changing consumption patterns across age and gender.

InFocus

The New Times

Officials discard thousands of litres of illicit brew during a crackdown on illegal production of alcoholic drinks in Bugesera District on November 16, 2025.

Follow AllAfrica

AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.