Five die of alcohol poisoning at Afghan wedding party

KABUL: Five young people have died of alcohol poisoning after drinking ethanol at a wedding party in the Afghan capital, an official said Sunday.

Another seven are in a critical condition in hospital after the party on Friday night, said Kabul's criminal investigation chief Mohammad Zahir.

Alcohol is illegal in the Islamic country and under sharia law those who buy, sell, or consume alcohol can be fined or imprisoned. But many young Afghans resort to buying alcohol on the black market or risk drinking adulterated home brews.

"Five people have died and seven were admitted to hospital in a critical condition after drinking ethanol during a wedding party", Zahir said, adding that the victims were all aged between 18 and 20.

A spokesman for the ministry of health said 20 people were initially admitted to hospital and 11 had to have their stomachs pumped. He did not have figures on how many fatalities there were. (AFP)