Alcohol and Chloroform

Question 1

Why is denatured alcohol?

Answer 1

is an alcohol that has been made unsuitable for drinking by the addition of denaturants

Question 2

What are the components used to prevent denatured alcohol from being consumed?

Answer 2

make it undesirable and inhibits recreational use

• does not alter the chemical composition
• does not cause decomposition

smelling agent
- has a specific, foul smell

foul tasting agent
- makes it unpalatable

analytical marker
- allows identification of the denatured alcohol

Question 3

What are denaturants?

Answer 3

products which denatured alcohol poisonous and unpalatable

Question 4

What are uses of denatured alcohol?

Answer 4

preserving specimens 
preparing leather – inks and printing
industrial solvent
toiletries/Perfumes
cleaning products
fuel – camping/BBQs and more

Question 5

What are the problems with denatured alcohols?

Answer 5

growth in consumption of methylated spirits (DA)

Question 6

What are the types of denatured alcohol?

Answer 6

CDA – Completely Denatured Alcohol
IDA – Industrial Denatured Alcohol
TSDA – Trade Specific Denatured Alcohol

most pharmacists only handle CDA and IDA

Question 7

What is CDA? What is it made of? What is it used for?

Answer 7

completely denatured alcohol
- addition of methyl violet dye is no longer mandatory

isopropyl alcohol - chemical analytical marker
methyl ethyl ketone - smelling agent
denatonium benzoate - tasting agent

used in:
- heating, lighting, cleaning and general domestic use

Question 8

What is IDA? What is it made of? What is it used for?

Answer 8

industrial denatured alcohol
- contains alcohol and wood naphtha/substitute

used in:
- industrial, external medical, scientific (analytical agents)

Question 9

What is TSDA? What is it used for?

Answer 9

trade specific denatured alcohol
- are types of DAs approved to meet specific trade needs

not routinely obtained or supplied by community pharmacy

used in:
- toiletries, make up

Question 10

What are the requirements for CDAs?

Answer 10

pharmacies can obtain CDAs from wholesalers and supply to CDAs to customers with no restriction

no conditions on:

• license or authorisation being required
• on the amount that may be purchased
• on its use

Question 11

What are the requirements for IDAs?

Answer 11

any person wanting to receive IDAs must be authorised by the HMRC to do so

• a pharmacist must be an authorised user
• an authorised user may supply to another authorised user

a copy of the person’s IDA must be given to the IDA wholesaler

Question 12

How much of an IDA can a pharmacist supply?

Answer 12

in quantities less than 20 litres at any one time to another authorised user

no limit on supply/amount of IDA on a signed order

Question 13

What are the conditions of use?

Answer 13

storage
- all stocks of IDA and TSDA must be:
= kept under lock and key
= under the pharmacist’s control

labelling
- all containers of supplied or dispensed for medical use must be labelled:
= ‘for external use only’
= ‘not to be taken’

Question 14

What records must be kept?

Answer 14

stocks of IDA (or TSDA) received
imports of IDA (or TSDA) received
- including country of origin
class of DA (whether it is IDA or TSDA)
quantities of IDA (or TSDA) held in stock
stocks of IDA or TSDA supplied
stock take results and actions taken if discrepancies are found
copies of the purchaser’s letter of authorisation

Question 15

When would a person receive penalties?

Answer 15

purchase without authorisation
sale / Supply to someone not authorised
sale / Supply to someone without receiving copy of authorisation
sale / supply of unauthorised preparation
using the DA for an unauthorised use.
unaccounted or non investigated losses