Adulterated alcohol in Türkiye: eleven people die

Eleven people died in 24 hours in Istanbul after consuming adulterated alcohol, the Turkish Anadolou agency reported on Tuesday.

“38 people, including 26 foreigners, were admitted to several hospitals in the city after consuming adulterated alcohol. Eleven of them who were treated in the last 24 hours died,” the state agency reported.

In 2024, 110 people fell ill after consuming adulterated alcohol in Istanbul, and 48 of them died, the Istanbul governorate said in a statement on X.

Alcohol adulterated with methanol, a toxic alcohol used in industry and household products, is suspected as the cause of the deaths.

Risk of blindness, liver damage

This substance is used in the manufacture of antifreeze or windshield washer fluid, varnish or photocopier fluid. Methanol can be added to other alcohols to increase potency or reduce price, but it can cause blindness, liver damage and death.

Poisoning with adulterated alcohol is quite common in Türkiye, where clandestine production has exploded since the increase in taxes on alcoholic beverages decided by the authorities.

The most common counterfeit product in the country is raki, the Turkish anise liqueur, which can be found on sale in supermarkets for around 1,300 Turkish liras per liter (around 36 euros). The average salary in Türkiye is 17,000 pounds (around 470 euros).

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accused by his opponents of wanting to Islamize society, has several times taken a stance against the consumption of alcohol or tobacco.

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