Odontol: Authoritative Sledgehammer

Locally brewed whisky known by its several name tags as Afofo, African gin, Ha , Odontol or poor man’s whisky has again hit hard taking the dear lives of 21 people in Mindourou in the East Region.

This is not the first time the famous Odontol is venting its anger on its consumers. Memories are still fresh of a similar incident in 1997 where about the same number of people died in the capital city, Yaounde after consuming it. Following that tragedy, the government prohibited the distilling and consumption of the drink, alongside other doubtful concoctions. But the business simply moved underground and has continued to thrive. Its drinkers give credit to the drink for its low cost and ability to make them “high” at a twinkle of the eye.

The wildly distilled drink is very common in the Centre, South, East and Littoral Regions. In most cases, it is drunk in groups at makeshift venues with customers usually sitting in half circles with bulging eyes and sore lips. The name Odontol was borrowed from a TV commercial that advertised Odontol toothpaste with footages of men and women baring their dentures in abandoned smiles - the same loose smile common with people high on the deadly gin.

The question on many minds remains why such a dangerous drink that is taking the lives of many has remained a hunt for many. The more authorities sensitise people against it, the more people get interested. The trade has even taken a great leap with the wild gin invading the streets of Cameroonian cities and is wildly consumed during funeral ceremonies. Odontol is now sold in many public places on the streets alongside other potent brews like the sorghum- based 'bili-bili' that is widespread in the northern part of the country, and 'afofo' in the English-speaking regions. This exponential expansion in the sale of the killer drink ser...