8 Desert Shield GIs Hospitalized After Trying Home-Brew
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IN EASTERN SAUDI ARABIA — Eight American soldiers have been poisoned by home-brewed alcohol and hospitalized since Sunday, one in very serious condition, the U.S. military command said today.
The soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division are the first known casualties of home-brewed liquor since U.S. forces were deployed in Saudi Arabia, a Muslim country which bans all alcohol.
Today’s statement from the U.S. Central Command said the soldiers, who were not identified, suffered from methanol poisoning, which is a problem associated with faulty home-brewed alcoholic beverages.
Methanol poisoning, which can lead to blindness or death, was a serious problem during Prohibition in the 1920s.
Since U.S. troops arrived in Saudi Arabia in early August, a small number have been disciplined for having alcoholic beverages.
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