Following reports regarding the deaths of 19 people and several other hospitalized due to poisoning, Czech Republic declared on Friday ban on commercialization of spirits, which contain more than 30% alcohol.

Health Minister Leos Heger assured that the ban has been implemented and is effective and will be including all outlets across the nation, where spirits are sold, be it restaurants, hotels or any other stores. Further, Kiosks and markets have been barred from selling spirits.

The step was taken after it was acknowledged that methanol is being mixed with black market vodka and rum. The chemical has been described to have a poisonous effect and worse is that it cannot be distinguished from the alcohol either by smelling or seeing.

In order to increase the sale of their illegal stocks, several criminals, add methanol to the alcohol beverage, as it is cheaper. World health Organization subjected that Czech Republic stands second in the list of alcohol consumption per capita.

Those of who had drunk these cheap alcohol beverages, 19 out of them have died and 24 have been admitted to hospital, out of which, a few have lost their eyesight and some have been made to enter coma, hoping that will help the doctors to treat them. It is being feared that the death toll will rise more.