The Arak and Wine are common alcoholic spirits in Syria. However, those spirits are often produced outside the controls of the manufacturing cycle in terms of fermentation and distillation, thus exposing the consumers to risk of methanol poisoning, w
hich confirms the need to submit their production to the control as extremely essential. The aim of this study to determination of methanol in some alcoholic beverage prepared by traditional local methods in order to verify conformity of local Alcohol Syrian standard specification. The samples were tested by using colorimetric method as official methods depending on the measurement using spectrophotometer at (575 nm).In comperation with the standard Syrian specifications number /2478/ year (2003), there were fifty test samples (Arak and Wine) collected from locally available. The study showed the amount of variation in the concentration of methanol depending on the difference in the method of preparation fermenting grapes. furthermore the importance of applying the control system to provide the quality of those popular spirits.
Background: The Arak is a common alcoholic spirit in Syria, where it is produced in licensed enterprises and by some proud farmers that produce it from their grapes. However, this drink is often produced outside the controls of the manufacturing cycl
e in terms of fermentation and distillation, thus exposing the consumers to risk of methanol poisoning, which confirms the need to submit Arak’s production to the control as extremely essential.
Materials and Methods: This study is based on a database built on a series of investigations of alcohol poisoning cases; methanol was detected and rated according to the standard chemical methods, where the results have been analyzed and treated by the statistical analysis method used in pharmaceutical research.
Results: The study showed the amount of variation in the concentration of methanol depending on the difference in the method of preparation fermenting grapes between domestic and industrial way. It also showed the role of repeated distillation to reduce the concentration of this toxic substance Conclusion: The results of the analysis reveal the importance of treating the high concentrations of methanol by the repeated distillation process to reach the allowable value, furthermore the importance of applying the control system to provide the quality of this popular spirit.
