Five young men in Andhra Pradesh's Sattenapalle town in Guntur district were left with rashes on their tongue and a burning sensation in their throat, after they drank beer, suspected to be toxic.
According to reports, the chilled beer was purchased from Red Wines in Sattenapalle town.
The Times of India reported that the youngsters noticed red rashes on their tongues as the burning sensation in the throats escalated, and approached a private doctor who examined them, gave them medicines, and said that they were out of danger.
"The youngsters drank around seven beers, before they opened this bottle. Even as they took a sip, they felt their throats burning. We will send the bottle to the lab for tests, and take further action accordingly," Excise sub-inspector M Ramesh told media persons.
There have been several incidents of illicit liquor in Andhra Pradesh in the past.
Just earlier this month, during a regular check, the Meerut police in Uttar Pradesh arrested one person and seized 50 cartons of illicit liquor, which was being manufactured in Andhra Pradesh.
In 2015, illicit liquor killed five people and left 15 persons hospitalised in Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, after they consumed it at a shop in Krishnalanka area.
All 20 people were reported to be daily-wage labourers.
Excise officials along with the police, then raided the premises of the shop and seized several samples, before sending them for an examination.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu ordered a thorough investigation, while state Excise Minister Kollu Ravindra visited the victims in the hospital, and ordered officials to provide them with the best possible treatment.
Despite this, Andhra Pradesh witnessed a rise of 10.5% in liquor sales in 2016 as compared to the previous year.
Till December 2016, the state collected excise income of Rs 3,384 crore and VAT income of Rs 6,669 crore for the 2016-17 fiscal year.
In 2015-16, the excise department had collected Rs 12,450 crore in revenue. For 2016-17, revenue of nearly Rs 10,531 crore has been collected against the target of Rs 13,700 crore.