A pocket-sized device enables detection of methanol adulteration in alcoholic beverages

Alcoholic drinks contaminated, either accidentally or deliberately, by methanol claimed at least 789 lives in 2019, mostly in Asia. Here, a palm-sized, multi-use sensor–smartphone system is presented for on-demand headspace analysis of beverages. The analyser quantified methanol concentrations in 89 pure and methanol-contaminated alcoholic drinks from 6 continents and performed accurately for 107 consecutive days. This device could help consumers, distillers, law-enforcing authorities and healthcare workers to easily screen methanol in alcoholic beverages. Fatalities from consuming alcoholic drinks accidentally—or intentionally—contaminated with methanol pose a serious public health problem, especially in Asia. Here, a smartphone app paired with a portable testing device is presented, enabling quick and accurate methanol quantification for consumers, beverage manufacturers, law-enforcement agencies and healthcare workers.