Illegal brew kills 14 drinkers in Sri Lanka

FOURTEEN people in Sri Lanka died after drinking moonshine - one of them a customs official meant to be tackling the trade.

Another 74 people were taken ill. Several in the town of Matara had blurred vision after drinking the brew, which contained methanol - a toxic liquid used in antifreeze. Moonshine is made from sugar, starch and yeast but can be lethal if methanol is added to cut costs.