During a press conference on Monday, the Ulaanbaatar Crime Prevention Council reported that contents of methylated spirit were found from the blood sample of a man who is believed to have died of alcohol poisoning. Due to the incident, city authorities recently placed a three-day ban on sales and distribution of alcohol.
Deputy Head of the Ulaanbaatar Court-Ordered Forensic Examination Office N.Ganbayar clarified that one out of five people who were undergoing treatment for alcohol poisoning died, and that five people did not die as reported by local media.
“We took samples from plastic cups and a bottle of liquid [they consumed] and conducted an autopsy on the person who died. For starters, we have detected methylated spirit from the blood sample of the deceased. The final examination report will come out in a week or two,” he stated.
Head of the Ulaanbaatar Specialized Inspection Agency L.Erdenechuluun noted that inspectors took samples from 59 bottles of vodka for laboratory examination, and added, “Results showed that samples from GEM International LLC met required standards, while the amount of alcohol of Munkhjin-Od LLC and Nairsag vodka brands didn’t meet adequate levels. In other words, their labels read 39 percent alcohol, when in fact, it was only 28 to 32 percent. Even so, the alcohol level isn’t enough to kill a person. The bottle of cleaning solution found at the scene contained 40 percent methylated spirit.”
Following L.Erdenechuluun’s report, Ulaanbaatar Police Department Chief J.Erdenebold notified that the investigation hasn’t concluded and reported on drop crimes during the three-day alhocol sales ban.
“During the ban on sales and distribution of alcohol from 6:00 p.m. on January 17 through 11:59 p.m. on January 20, criminal offences caused involving the use of alcoholic beverages decreased. Criminal Crime reports declined by 61.9 percent, reports of alcohol abuse by 63.3 percent, and violations dropped by 39.3 percent. This shows how much alcohol impacts the lives of the public,” he highlighted.
According to Head of Ulaanbaatar Health Department Sh.Tumurbaatar, 96 people were admitted to hospitals in Ulaanbaatar for alcohol overdose during the ban, but didn’t have anything to do with the suspected alcohol poisoning that occurred in Bayanzurkh District last week. In relation to some stores selling alcohol during the ban, Deputy Ulaanbaatar Mayor D.Enkhtur assured that appropriate measures will be taken, such as terminations of permits of alcoholic beverage sales.
“There is a requirement to regulate food security. Since the Mongolian national holiday, Tsagaan Sar, is just around the corner, agencies specialized in food sales and distribution must pay extra attention to this matter,” highlighted Ts.Sandui, Chairman of the Ulaanbaatar City Council and Head of the Ulaanbaatar Crime Prevention Council. He ordered agencies to supervise sales and distribution of food products without burdening the public and to intensify preventive measures.
DRUNK DRIVING VIOLATIONS DECLINE DURING UB’S TEMPORARY ALCOHOL SALES BAN
Last Friday, a working group led by Deputy Mayor J.Batbayasgalan reported that traffic accidents caused by drunk drivers decreased by 83.3 percent, and the number of drivers arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol declined by 56.8 percent in Ulaanbaatar during a temporary ban on the sale and distribution of alcohol.
The temporary ban was in effect from January 17 to 20, ordered by the Ulaanbaatar Mayor’s Office to ensure public safety after five people died in Bayangol District due to poisoning by an undetermined liquid substance on January 16. The working group lifted the ban at 11:59 p.m. on January 20, and the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages was allowed to resume.
“The police haven’t received another report about alcohol poisoning since the sale and distribution of alcohol was prohibited. The working group determined that there was no reason to believe that a certain product caused the poisoning, and it was decided that it was unnecessary to extend the ban,” said A.Davaajargal, secretary of the working group and a legal officer at the Ulaanbaatar Mayor’s Office.
“The ban until January 20 was very well enforced. Residents and businesses were very cooperative, as they understood the importance of the ban very well. Thanks to their cooperation, we are seeing good results, and crimes in the capital decreased by more than 50 percent,” said J.Batbayasgalan.
The Bayanzurkh District Police Department found one store that continued selling alcoholic beverages and took two inebriated people into custody during the three-day ban.
According to A.Davaajargal, the National Institute of Forensic Science will announce the results of its analysis of samples of the substances believed to have been consumed by the five people who died last week.
