Turkey issues illegal alcohol warning after 103 deaths since January

More than 100 people have died after drinking bootleg alcohol in the Turkish cities of Ankara and Istanbul, according to NTV. Authorities have warned consumers about the increase in sales of illicit alcohol under the guise of big-name brands.

During the same time, 230 people across the two cities were hospitalised, 40 of which were reported as being in a critical condition.

Turkey’s rise in illegal alcohol sales corresponds with the increasing price of alcoholic drinks after heavy taxes were imposed by the government.

To help combat the problem, mandatory cameras have been installed in shops selling alcohol. Regular inspections are also being carried out, with some alcohol sellers having their licences suspended or revoked. Authorities have arrested 13 people in Ankara and 11 more in Istanbul in connection with the deaths, NTV said, citing the local governors. They have seized 102 tons of methanol and ethanol in Ankara, and over 86,000 litres of bootleg or smuggled alcohol in Istanbul, the news channel added.

On Friday, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s (FCDO) updated its website to advise visitors to Turkey to only buy alcoholic beverages from licensed liquor stores or licensed bars and hotels, to avoid homemade alcoholic drinks, check bottle seals are intact and check labels for poor print quality or incorrect spelling.

The agency warned: “In Turkey, including Ankara and Istanbul, people have died or suffered serious illness after drinking illegally produced local spirits and counterfeit bottles of branded alcohol.” It advised that if holidaymakers fall ill after drinking alcohol, they should seek urgent medical attention.

Turkey is among several other countries struggling to control the sale of dangerous counterfeit alcohol. Last year, six tourists died in a suspected mass methanol poisoning in the small riverside town of Vang Vieng, a hub for backpackers in Southeast Asia.

This month ITIJ took a deep dive into the risks posed to travellers by methanol in spirits.