Within the past two months, in Hail, 11 young people have died and a 12th been blinded. They drank a cheap after-shave (eau de cologne) which is available in almost every shop in the Kingdom. In addition to the tragedies in Hail, other areas have seen young people in the prime of life becoming victims of this killer. With the price of a bottle only SR5 to SR15, it is easily affordable by those who drink it for its high alcohol content. If accurate official figures were published showing the number of deaths involving this substance, we would all be genuinely shocked. Our shock might then in turn lead us to reconsider our priorities.
It is interesting to note that most of the deaths reported from the cologne have occurred outside major cities. The reason may be that such news in remote areas is unusual and not so easy to cover up as might be the case in a large city. Some say the cologne that kills is adulterated with inferior ingredients. The cheap one contains methyl which if swallowed can lead to death or loss of sight within 24 hours. The normal cologne which contains ethanol may kill over a long period of use after first damaging the liver.
These dangerous substances are in bottles which carry meaningless warnings as packets of cigarettes also do. The least the Ministry of Commerce could do is to force local manufacturers and distributors to change the design of the bottles to contain skeletons clearly outlined and clearly visible to all. If the ministry refuses to do this, then surely merchants who sell the cologne should be forced to include a shroud for no extra charge.
5 October 2002
