'Sixteen people have died since May 23 from drinking alcohol mixed with methanol. The methanol level is very high, exceeding what a human body can take,' Denpasar police spokesman Sri Harmiti told AFP.

Residents had informed the police that one of the victims held a booze party in a rented house last weekend, Ms Harmiti said.

'We seized a gallon of alcohol from the house. We're now investigating if the brew was homemade or store-bought,' she added.

The victims could have consumed a locally-made beverage which has gained growing popularity among the island's youths and adults from low income families, The Jakarta Post newspaper reported.

The beverage is a concoction of rice wine and several other ingredients, including fuel oil, methanol and detergent, to enhance its potency.

Consuming even small amounts of methanol, which is used in the manufacture of a range of chemicals, can cause blindness or death. -- AFP