If you watch the Discovery Channel then you’ve probably seen a show called “Moonshiners.” The series, which began its first season in 2011, follows around illegal moonshine distillers in the Appalachian Mountains. What makes the show appealing is not the colorful cast of characters in overalls, but the fact that the alcohol these guys produce is some of the most powerful stuff on the plant. The Discovery Channel needs to subtitle most of the show as the characters use their unique vernacular to explain the process of creating illegal liquor that can reach strengths of 160 proof. In comparison, the average bottle of liquor produced commercially is only around 80 proof. Viewers often seen the distillers taking long swigs of their product from bell jars as they pay homage to their ancestors who made a living moonshining during the prohibition era. The issue is that moonshine is incredibly dangerous in more ways than one. There are numerous health risks involved in not only drinking the stuff, but also making it.

The process of making moonshine is fairly complex and to get it wrong can be disastrous. One of the major health concerns with moonshine is the prevalence of lead in toxic levels. Since backwoods stills are generally made from spare parts such as car radiators, then contaminates enter the batch without the distiller knowing. One of the most common ways to test moonshine is to light it on fire. Any substance over 50% alcohol will be flammable and you can use the flame color to tell a lot about your brew. An alcohol that burns with a blue flame contains a lot of ethanol, the primary ingredient in alcoholic drinks. A yellow flame indicates low levels of contaminates, while a red flame indicates that the mixture contains a significant amount of lead. All moonshine is alcoholic enough to light on fire.

Since moonshine is highly combustible, it should come as no surprise that making a mistake could blow the whole still sky high. There are hundreds of stories of moonshiners doing one thing wrong and subsequently blowing themselves into oblivion. Even correctly made moonshine can still have a high level of methanol, a toxic substance which distills at a lower temperature than ethanol. Methanol can cause death and is the reason why people going blind became associated with moonshine use.

Alcohol addiction is a serious problem in the United States but it can be controlled. Like moonshiners, the life of an alcoholic is entirely intertwined with booze. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse issues, call the Drug Treatment Helpline in Mount Prospect, IL as soon as possible. The trained professionals have experience treating all kinds of substance addictions and they can help you regain control over your life.