Prison, Pruno and Poison

Prisoners have long been creative in their ability to access ethanol. Ten years ago hand sanitizer was the readily available source of ethanol. A few prisoners drank the sanitizer straight from the bottle with side effects from the glycerin. Others strained the sanitizer through socks and salt resulting in pure ethanol. Genius!

Now I read about "pruno" being the drug of choice in prisons. Is this brilliant biochemistry or just another way to harm yourself?

“Pruno, or prison wine, is an alcoholic liquid variously made from apples, oranges, fruit cocktail, ketchup, sugar, and possibly other ingredients, including crumbled bread. Bread supposedly provides the yeast for the pruno to ferment. Pruno originated in (and remains largely confined to) prisons and jails, where it can be produced cheaply, easily, and discreetly. The concoction can be made using only a plastic bag, hot running water, and a towel or sock to conceal the pulp during fermentation. The end result has been colorfully described as a "vomit-flavored wine-cooler", although flavor is often not the primary objective. Depending on the time spent fermenting, the sugar content, and the quality of the ingredients and preparation, pruno's alcohol content by volume can range from as low as 2% (equivalent to a very weak beer) to as high as 14% (equivalent to a strong wine).” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pruno Accessed 10/29/2012

I am sure many people have had positive effects from pruno over the centuries. A report published in MMWR (MMWR October 5,2012. Botulism from drinking prison made illicit alcohol. 61(39):782-784) illuminated an interesting side effect. At the Utah State Maximum Security Prison eight inmates were diagnosed and treated for foodborne botulism after consuming pruno.  All patients received antitoxin and three required mechanical ventilation.  None of the prisoners died.  Foodborne botulism comes from a toxin produced by the anaerobic bacteria, clostridium botulinum.   In this instance the bacteria came from a potato. 

So next time you are looking to brew your own.   Try to avoid any ethanol brewed in a garbage bag.