Surrogate alcohol
Surrogate alcohol is a term for any substance containing ethanol that is intentionally consumed but is not meant for consumption. Most people turn to these as a last resort either out of desperation, being underaged or being unable to afford consumable alcoholic beverages.
Common surrogate alcohols
Many alcoholic liquids contain alcohol but are not meant to be ingested in the same way as alcoholic beverages. Typical surrogate alcohols include:
- Hand sanitizer
- Mouthwash
- Aftershave or cologne
- Cleaning fluids such as Windex
- Extracts
- Charcoal lighter fluid
- Rubbing alcohol
- Windshield washer fluid
- Antifreeze
- Denatured alcohol – ethanol rendered unfit to drink by mixing with methanol or bittering agents
- Sterno
- Moonshine and other homemade alcohols, including two or more of the above mixed together
- Disinfectants
- Liquid soap
- Paint
Dangers to health
Most surrogate alcohols have very high alcoholic levels, some as high as 95%, and thus can lead to alcohol poisoning, along with other symptoms of alcohol abuse such as vertigo, impaired coordination, balance and judgment, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and even long-term effects such as heart failure and stroke.
Besides alcohol, there are many other toxic substances in surrogate alcohol such as hydrogen peroxide, antiseptics, ketones, as well as alcohols other than ethanol (drinking alcohol) such as isopropanol and methanol. Consumption of these can lead to internal hemorrhaging and scarring, ulcers, headaches, CNS depression, blindness, coma, and death.
