Czechs ban EU spirits exports

The Czech Republic has banned the export to EU countries of spirits with more than 20% alcohol content after 23 people who drank bootleg booze tainted with methanol died in the country.

Health Minister Leos Heger issued the ban today at the request of the European Union.

For the first time ever, the government banned the sale of spirits at home last week to fight the methanol poisoning. Stores removed all spirits from their shelves.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Petr Necas said his government hoped to lift the ban soon when new regulations take effect requiring all spirits to be sold in the republic with stamps showing their origin, contents and distribution.

Poland and Slovakia had already banned the sale of Czech spirits.