Following a series of methanol poisonings from illegally made alcohol, the Czech government instituted a widespread ban on the sale of liquor with an alcohol content of more than 20%. The ban went into effect on September 14 and may last for weeks or even months as Czech police try to find the source of the illegal liquor. Vendors, restaurants, bars and pubs are not allowed to sell any hard alcohol at this time. The government may lift the ban partially by allowing sales of newly produced spirits in bottles sealed with new excise stamps within about two weeks.

Here are some current articles on the topic:

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-09-18/czech-liquor-ban-costs-pernod-ahold-millions-as-search-drags-on

http://www.praguepost.com/news/14337-banned-booze.html

http://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/czech-government-plans-to-ease-liquor-ban

And here are two pictures of Prague bar signs from today. As usual, Czechs are quick to make light of a bad situation by injecting some humor.

1st Category, 0% vol.: water, soda, coffee, tea
2nd Category, 0,1 – 4,99% vol.: products of Pilsner and other breweries
3rd Category, 5 – 19,99% vol.: products of wineries and mostly foreign distilleries
4th Category, 20% vol. and over

This sign uses the notorious quote by The Good Soldier Švejk, “Beg to report Sir, I DON’T DRINK ANY LIQUOR…” and words from a Czech children’s game “Cukr, káva, limonáda, čaj, rum, bum” (Sugar, coffee, lemonade, tea, rum, boom)