# Liquor bottles got hit with Sandy flood water...safe to drink? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 4, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097 "2013-01-04T19:51:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![monsterzro\_nyc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6bbea6/32.png) [@monsterzro\_nyc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monsterzro_nyc)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097/1 "2013-01-04T19:51:11Z")
I kept my hooch in the basement, which got flooded by Sandy, if I just boil the bottle by the necks, do you think the liquor is contaminated? What about bottles that were sealed and never opened? ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097/2 "2013-01-04T20:22:29Z")
My WAG is that the bottles w/ intact seals are fase, but you probally should sterilize the bottls before opening them. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097/3 "2013-01-04T20:33:17Z")
If the bottles were closed so no liquid can escape, then how would liquid get in to contaminate them? Even if a drop of flood water did get in to a bottle, it is no guarantee that the liquor is contaminated. Personally I would just smell it; if bacteria contamination has occurred and the beasties grew and thrived you would smell either them or the byproducts of their growth. If you don’t smell them, then either there is no contamination or the bacteria was wiped out. Most likely (except with beer and wine), the alcohol would kill off any bad stuff anyway. With beer and wine, they would not last this long open anyway and if closed no worries. Contamination with non-organics is very unlikely due to quantities involved. I.e. a drop of heavy metal contaminated water in a bottle of wine would not be dangerous due to dilution, more than a drop would be noticeable and you would not drink it. What, exactly, are you worried about? Was it new bottles that were submerged? Or corked, but previously open, bottles that were submerged. What type of liquor? If you want , you can send them to me and I will conduct a randomized test for contamination. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097/4 "2013-01-04T20:58:56Z")
> [@L. G. Butts](#): > > if bacteria contamination has occurred and the beasties grew and thrived you would smell either them or the byproducts of their growth. If you don’t smell them, then either there is no contamination or the bacteria was wiped out. This is false. Not all pathogens make things smelly and not all smell-making microbes are harmful. Agree with the rest of your post though - if it’s originally-sealed bottles, they should be safe, if it’s spiritous liquor, it should be safe. I wouldn’t sterlise by boiling though, as this could crack the bottles. Wipe down with dilute bleach, leave for a while, then rinse off with clean water. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097/5 "2013-01-04T21:00:04Z")
I don’t think any bottle decontamination is needed alcohol is self sterilizing. Perhaps rinsing them would be helpful, even in a mild bleach solution, But placing the bottle in boiling water does not seem like a good idea, hot water outside, cold alcohol inside = thermal shock. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097/6 "2013-01-04T21:06:13Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > This is false. Not all pathogens make things smelly and not all smell-making microbes are harmful. Actually, as a general rule, smelly things don’t hurt you if you eat them and things that don’t smell will. It’s evolution: if an organism is killed by stomach acids, it’s best to smell bad so it won’t be eaten; if the organism infects after ingestion, it’s a bad idea to have a bad smell that discourages eating. If the bottle is sealed, wash it with a disinfectant on the outside; that should take care of things. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097/7 "2013-01-04T21:19:33Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Actually, as a general rule, smelly things don’t hurt you if you eat them and things that don’t smell will. It’s evolution: if an organism is killed by stomach acids, it’s best to smell bad so it won’t be eaten; if the organism infects after ingestion, it’s a bad idea to have a bad smell that discourages eating. That sounds like it makes sense, but is it really true? What smells putrid to a human is nectar to a dog, for example. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097/8 "2013-01-04T21:22:47Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > This is false. Not all pathogens make things smelly and not all smell-making microbes are harmful. > > Agree with the rest of your post though - if it’s originally-sealed bottles, they should be safe, if it’s spiritous liquor, it should be safe. > > I wouldn’t sterlise by boiling though, as this could crack the bottles. Wipe down with dilute bleach, leave for a while, then rinse off with clean water. Yeah, I guess I knew that to be true. I was just shocked that someone would be worried about contamination from submerging a closed bottle of liquor. Am I the only one who cools beer in a stream? Sure, I imagine that the flood water in NYC was a bit dirtier that the mountain stream with a herd of cattle or sheep a mile upstream, but still… ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097/9 "2013-01-04T21:24:41Z")
> [@L. G. Butts](#): > > I was just shocked that someone would be worried about contamination from submerging a closed bottle of liquor.. Same here. No offense to the OPer but I did role my eyes at society’s collective OCD at this one. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097/10 "2013-01-04T21:30:43Z")
Floodwater does contain a lot of non-bioactive nastiness, like oil and stuff. Still, that would probably not be a huge problem. Make sure you clean the mouth of the bottle (under the screw cap or cork cap). ---
**Author:** ![monsterzro\_nyc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6bbea6/32.png) [@monsterzro\_nyc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monsterzro_nyc)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097/11 "2013-01-04T21:36:52Z")
thanks all! I’ll have a drink! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097/12 "2013-01-04T21:42:30Z")
> [@L. G. Butts](#): > > Yeah, I guess I knew that to be true. I was just shocked that someone would be worried about contamination from submerging a closed bottle of liquor. Am I the only one who cools beer in a stream? Sure, I imagine that the flood water in NYC was a bit dirtier that the mountain stream with a herd of cattle or sheep a mile upstream, but still… Agree. A sealed bottle is sealed out as well as in. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097/13 "2013-01-04T22:13:43Z")
Guys, have you looked at bottles with screw on lids? Particularly the larger ones like Sambucca? The booze may be fine but some nasty stuff could seep up into those threads, which could contaminate stuff once opened. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097/14 "2013-01-04T22:50:12Z")
Sure -I guess if there’s a dirt trap built into the lid, you could clean the cap, then pierce it through the middle of the top and pour out the contents through the hole. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097/15 "2013-01-04T22:53:45Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > \*\*I don’t think any bottle decontamination is needed alcohol is self sterilizing. \*\*Perhaps rinsing them would be helpful, even in a mild bleach solution, But placing the bottle in boiling water does not seem like a good idea, hot water outside, cold alcohol inside = thermal shock. If it’s 140 proof, you bet. If it’s just 70 proof scotch and brandy, then a little rinsing the first time you open it is in order. e coli cares not about 70 proof alcohol; that’s why rubbing alcohol is 140 (or more). ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097/16 "2013-01-04T22:56:45Z")
I helped a local pub clean up after the Brisbane floods in 2011. They were having to throw out a lot of otherwise sealed booze. I know your personal stash is different to being able to resell it. One thing I was told when I saw everything that was being chucked out (including sealed liquor bottles) is any bottles that have paper labels couldn’t be kept, as the labels were impregnanted with the flood water and potential contaminates. So might be worthwhile stripping the labels off when you disinfect the bottles. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097/17 "2013-01-04T22:57:55Z")
“Time for a mystery drink!” ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097/18 "2013-01-04T23:04:13Z")
> [@GreedySmurf](#): > > I helped a local pub clean up after the Brisbane floods in 2011. They were having to throw out a lot of otherwise sealed booze. I know your personal stash is different to being able to resell it. > > One thing I was told when I saw everything that was being chucked out (including sealed liquor bottles) is any bottles that have paper labels couldn’t be kept, as the labels were impregnanted with the flood water and potential contaminates. So might be worthwhile stripping the labels off when you disinfect the bottles. Yeah… “throw out”… I am sure it must have been terrible “throwing out” that perfectly good booze 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097/19 "2013-01-04T23:08:45Z")
> [@GreedySmurf](#): > > One thing I was told when I saw everything that was being chucked out (including sealed liquor bottles) is any bottles that have paper labels couldn’t be kept, as the labels were impregnanted with the flood water and potential contaminates. So might be worthwhile stripping the labels off when you disinfect the bottles. Also, if you have a local homebrew supply store, you could check with them to see what sort of sanitizers they had on hand that you could add to the water to soak them in, to both sanitize the bottles and make it easier to remove the labels. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-bottles-got-hit-with-sandy-flood-water-safe-to-drink/646097/20 "2013-01-05T09:55:40Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > Yeah… “throw out”… I am sure it must have been terrible “throwing out” that perfectly good booze 😉 They didn’t actually ‘throw’ them out – they dumped them in the sanitary sewer system. Of course, being Aussies, they filtered them through their own kidneys first! 😃