Denatured alcohol

Denatured alcohol is regular ethanol (drinking alcohol) that has been made unsuitable for consumption by adding chemicals called denaturants. These substances prevent people from drinking it while still allowing it to be used safely in industrial, cleaning, and manufacturing applications. Denatured alcohol is often used as a solvent, in cleaning products, or as fuel for alcohol burners. Because it’s not intended for drinking, it’s usually taxed less and labeled as hazardous, requiring careful handling and storage. Despite being similar to drinking alcohol, denatured alcohol should never be ingested due to its toxic additives.