Tainted alcohol claims 37 lives in Istanbul

The death toll from tainted alcohol consumption in Istanbul has climbed to 37 over the past six weeks, according to the governor’s office.

Seventeen additional individuals remain hospitalized, while 23 people have been treated and discharged. Since November 1, a total of 77 cases of poisoning have been reported, officials said Monday.

Methanol, a toxic substance often illicitly added to liquor to increase potency, is believed to be the cause. Methanol poisoning can result in severe health complications, including blindness, liver failure, and death.

Authorities have arrested 14 suspects linked to the production and distribution of the tainted alcohol and seized over 14,700 bottles of counterfeit liquor. Additionally, 32 businesses have been fined a collective 2.6 million Turkish lira ($76,200) for supplying fake alcohol.

The issue of adulterated alcohol is growing in Turkey, where surging taxes on alcohol have driven many to produce it privately. Raki, the aniseed-flavored national beverage, is frequently counterfeited. A liter of legitimate raki now costs around 1,300 lira ($37.20), a significant burden for citizens earning the country’s minimum wage of 17,000 lira ($489) per month.

Mass poisonings from tainted alcohol are not new in Turkey. In December 2021, at least 25 people died over several days, and a year earlier, around 40 fatalities were reported.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, often criticized for promoting Islamic values in Turkey’s secular society, has long opposed alcohol and tobacco use.