time out from photos - BREAKING NEWS

Here is a story I cut from the UB Post online newspaper. After we returned from China, clayt tried at several places to buy a few beers, but was either told "no" by the person at the checkout, or found that the store had placed tarps over the entire alcohol section of the store - no beer, no vodka. We couldn't figure out what the heck was going on, until a mongolian friend filled us in last night. He said the people died of ether poisoning. Below is the official story.

11 DEAD, DOZENS OF OTHERS POISONED BY TAINTED VODKA
Written by Ch.Sumiyabazar
Thursday, January 03, 2008.

On December 31, eleven people died and dozens of others were poisoned by tainted vodka. The substandard vodka was produced and sold by Aziin Chono or Asian Wolf alcoholic beverage production company located in Baganuur, a satellite district town of Ulaanbaatar.
The number of those poisoned was at 28 on January 1, but at Wednesday’s government meeting, the Deputy Premier, M. Enkhbold said the number of victims had grown to 52.
“220 local people in Baganuur District have come under voluntary medical testing. 52 people were found to be poisoned. 27 of them are in local hospital. Health conditions of three victims are critical now,” he said.
The said that the Government of Mongolia has declared the year 2008 as the year for food safety.
Seven of those who were seriously poisoned people, were transfered to the Central Military Hospital located in Bayanzurkh District under intensive medical care. The health condition of two of them is critical, said hospital administration. The rest are in a local hospital in Baganuur.
According to a conclusion by the Professional Inspection Agency, the bottled vodka was made of a methanol alcoholic spirit that was not for human consumption, but for industrial purpose.
The police arrested a man in Nalaikh District, called Bayaraa, who was charged with selling 600 liters of the material to the Asian Wolf company. The man said in his affidavit that he purchased the spirit component from Chinese nationals two years ago. The police are continuing their investigation.
The government has banned the sale of vodka in the capital city for an indefinite period. The inspection agency warned the public, especially those in eastern provinces where the company’s products are believed to have been sold in large quantities, not to buy any vodka that has the titles “Bugat Khangai”, “Kherlen”, “Anist”, “Aziin Chono”, “Tsatsal”, “Morit Khangai” and “Tansag”. The agency said that the company could have produced 3,000 liters of vodka with the 600 liters of the poisonous component. However, no cases have been reported in the eastern provinces. The agency said the first symptom of poisoning may appear 10-20 hours after consumption.
In conjunction with this case, Metropolitan police have begun a close investigation and examination of those vodka producers located in Ulaanbaatar city. There are over 40 vodka producers in the city.