Several Bags Of 'Prison Wine' Confiscated At San Francisco Jail Ahead Of Super Bowl

Officers working at a San Francisco jail reportedly confiscated bags of homebrewed alcohol several inmates made to serve during a Super Bowl party.

The alcohol was confiscated Saturday at Santa Rita Jail by staff with the aid of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. Several large trash bags of pruno, or “prison wine,” and ingredients were reportedly hidden across several jail cells as part of an alleged plan by the inmates to “go big” for the Super Bowl.

A pungent smell reportedly coming from the alcohol tipped off staff about the inmates’ plans.

“There will be no super bowl party at Santa Rita Jail tomorrow,” the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office wrote in an Instagram post showing the number of bags confiscated.

“Never fun to ruin a good party, but in this case the party is over before it started,” Alameda County Sheriff spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly told reporters. “We will all watch the Super Bowl today at Santa Rita sober.”

Confiscating the alcohol also ensured none of the inmates came down with botulism as a result of drinking the pruno.

“It smells horrible and can make people very sick,” Kelly said.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention describes botulism as a “serious illness” caused by consuming toxins that harm the body’s nerves, causing paralysis or death. It is more common among inmates because of the process of making pruno, where fruit, sugar, water, and other ingredients are allowed to ferment in sealed bags. This process allows botulism germs to form in the pruno, presenting a major health risk to anyone who consumes it.

Some symptoms of early-onset botulism include blurred or double vision, slurred speech, problems swallowing, dry mouth and muscle weakness. If left unattended, more serious symptoms like paralysis or breathing problems could develop and lead to death.