Prisoners brew hooch from fruit handed out as part of healthy eating drive

01 April 2023 , 19:08

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HMP Drake Hall, a 340-capacity women’s jail near Eccleshall, Staffs (Image: SENTINEL)

Prisoners have been brewing illegal hooch from fruit handed out to improve their diets.

Lags got graze boxes in a healthy food pilot and some used the contents to make booze of up to 40% ABV.

The illegal spirits were brewed at HMP Drake Hall, a 340-capacity women’s jail near Eccleshall, Staffs.

Jail hooch is commonly made by fermenting fruit – most commonly oranges – with sugar and yeast or bread in a warm place for 10-30 days.

It is poured into five-litre containers, like old disinfectant drums, to share with pals or sell.

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A report by the Independent Monitoring Board said: “Hooch finds occur at Drake Hall and can be of high alcohol content.”

Inmates have been brewing illicit hooch behind bars (stock photo) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Noting “quantities tend to be large”, it added: “The women are given fruit as part of their healthy diet and it is difficult to monitor the leftovers and waste.”

A source added: “On the face of it, this was a good idea. But it has fallen into evil hands.”

Staff are now monitoring fruit and veg more closely and have set up a unit to seek stashes.

A Prison Service spokesman said: “Hooch finds have decreased significantly at HMP Drake Hall thanks to our £100million security crackdown.”

Stian Alexander