Bekonang village in Sukoharjo, Indonesia, is home to many distilleries that are using traditional methods to make Cui, an form of alcohol usually sold to pharmacies and hospitals but is now being sold illegally, with people using it to make 'Oplosan' - a cheap path to alcohol oblivion, known to cause blindness, hospitalisation and even death.
Made from methanol, ethanol, water and fruit extract, the popularity of Oplosan has increased dramatically in Indonesia, with at least 26 Oplosan-related deaths being recorded in early February, after people bought it from vendors for a price as low as RP 15,000 (77p, $1.1) making it much cheaper than other branded alcohol.
A worker holds an alcohol metre as he measures the percentage level of Ciu, an alcohol produced from sugarcane fermentation during the distillation process of ethanol alcohol at Bekonang village in Sukoharjo, IndonesiaUlet Ifansasti/ Getty ImagesNur Achmad, 29 lays in a hospital bed after receiving treatment after drinking illegal alcohol known as 'Oplosan' in Yogyakarta, IndonesiaUlet Ifansasti/ Getty ImagesA group of students drink alcohol in Yogyakarta, IndonesiaUlet Ifansasti/ Getty ImagesA worker fills drums with sugarcane fermentation during the distillation process of ethanol alcohol at Bekonang village in Sukoharjo, IndonesiaUlet Ifansasti/ Getty ImagesA worker carries buckets containing sugarcane fermentation during the distillation process of ethanol alcohol at Bekonang village, IndonesiaUlet Ifansasti/ Getty ImagesA worker fills drums with the sugarcane fermentation during the distillation process of ethanol alcohol at Bekonang village, IndonesiaUlet Ifansasti/ Getty ImagesA worker controls the heat of boiler drums during the distillation process of ethanol alcohol at Bekonang village, IndonesiaUlet Ifansasti/ Getty ImagesA worker holds a tank over a large barrel during the distillation process of ethanol alcohol at Bekonang village, IndonesiaUlet Ifansasti/ Getty ImagesA worker carries buckets containing sugarcane fermentation during the distillation process of ethanol alcohol at Bekonang village, IndonesiaUlet Ifansasti/ Getty ImagesA worker fills drums with sugarcane fermentation during the distillation process of ethanol alcohol at Bekonang village, IndonesiaUlet Ifansasti/ Getty ImagesAlcohol produced from sugarcane fermentation during distillation process of ethanol alcohol falls into a barrel at Bekonang village, IndonesiaUlet Ifansasti/ Getty ImagesA worker measures the percentage level of ciu, an alcohol produced from sugarcane fermentation using alcoholmeter during the distillation process of ethanol alcohol at Bekonang village, IndonesiaUlet Ifansasti/ Getty ImagesWorkers stand in an alcohol distillery which processes ethanol alcohol at Bekonang village, IndonesiaUlet Ifansasti/ Getty ImagesA worker drinks Ciu, an alcohol produced from sugarcane fermentation during the distillation process of ethanol alcohol at Bekonang village, IndonesiaUlet Ifansasti/ Getty ImagesEdi Sulistia, 28, who suffered blindness after drinking illegal alcohol known as 'Oplosan' sits at his house in Yogyakarta, IndonesiaUlet Ifansasti/ Getty ImagesIndonesian police lead five people suspected of selling illegal alcohol known as 'Oplosan,' which caused dozens deaths, through the street in Yogyakarta, IndonesiaUlet Ifansasti/ Getty ImagesFransiska Wulandari, 30, holds a photo of her husband, Donny Tamtomo S, who died after drinking illegal alcohol known as 'Oplosan,' in Yogyakarta, IndonesiaUlet Ifansasti/ Getty ImagesStudents pour themselves glasses of alcohol in Yogyakarta, IndonesiaUlet Ifansasti/ Getty ImagesA student reacts to the taste after drinking alcohol in Yogyakarta, IndonesiaUlet Ifansasti/ Getty Images
