Assessment of the quality of local gins in Bayelsa State: Determination of methanol content in local gins

Methanol is a poisonous contaminant contained in alcoholic liquor including local gins produced and consumed by local people in Bayelsa State and other parts of Nigeria without quality control checks especially for methanol content. Samples of local gin were bought from six major gin-producing camps in Bayelsa State; Camp A, Amassoma; Camp B, Ekowe; Camp C, Peremabiri, Camp D, Ayama-ebeni, Camp E, Akede; and Camp F, Toru-ebeni. Local gins were bought from thirty hang out places; fifteen from Yenagoa city (labeled YEN 1-YEN 15) and fifteen from Amassoma (labeled AMASSOMA 1–15), all in Bayelsa State. These samples were analyzed for methanol and ethanol by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. The samples from the camps showed ethanol content that ranged from 35.4%-60.2%; methanol, 0.02%-0.09%. Samples from hang out places in Amassoma showed ethanol content that ranged from 20.36%-50.44%; methanol, 0.01%-0.08%. Samples from Yenagoa hang out places showed ethanol content that ranged from 20.12%-48.65%; methanol, 0.01%-0.08%. The % methanol in all samples were within the EU recommended permissible levels; 40% ethanol: 0.4% methanol. Therefore, local gins produced and consumed in Bayelsa State are safe for consumption in respect of methanol content.