The authorities in Czech have granted a partial lifting of the spirits ban in the country.

The crackdown on drinks with an abv of 20% and above was introduced earlier this month after around 20 people died and dozens were injured from drinking illegal alcohol laced with industrial methanol. However, the Government said earlier this week that it will permit the sale of spirits produced before 1 January this year.

Spirits producers with liquor made this year, however, will have 60 days in which to obtain confirmation from an accredited laboratory that the respective content was made from ethanol, not methanol. In future, an electronic identification code will indicate that such accreditation has been secured.

All opened bottles of spirits held in the gastronomic sector will have to be emptied.

The Government also plans to introduce a new law introducing a licence for spirit production in the country.