Bootleg alcohol claims lives once again in Türkiye

At least 30 people have died in Istanbul over the last few days in connection with yet another incident involving illicit alcohol in Turkiye.

Local news reports suggest around 80 people have been hospitalised as a result of exposure to counterfeit liquor, and with more than 30 still in intensive care the death toll may well rise even further.

A statement from the office of Istanbul's governor notes that there has been "a significant increase in poisoning cases due to the use of counterfeit alcohol throughout Istanbul."

Since the start of 2025, 29 tonnes of counterfeit alcohol have been seized, and 64 businesses that were found to be selling counterfeit or smuggled alcohol have had their licenses revoked and shut down, with legal proceedings started against company officials. Last year, 302 tonnes of counterfeit alcohol were seized.

Six people have been detained in connection with the recent outbreak of fatalities, two of whom have been imprisoned on murder charges. Proceedings against the remaining four are ongoing.

Türkiye has faced numerous incidents involving counterfeit alcohol years, including a wave of poisonings in 2020 and 2021 that resulted in more than 140 people losing their lives across various cities in the country.

The victims had consumed methanol-laced bootleg alcohol, highlighting the severe risks associated with unregulated alcohol production and underscoring the need for stricter enforcement and public awareness campaigns.

Methanol is sometimes used by counterfeiters and bootleggers to increase the alcohol content of their products cheaply, without regard for safety.

Methanol contamination can cause serious side effects including blindness and paralysis when ingested even in fairly small quantities. Serious health complications can also occur however even in the absence of the chemical, for example if ethyl alcohol is present in dangerously high proportions.

In response to the incidents, the Turkish government has taken several measures including increased raids to try to locate illegal alcohol production sites, introducing stricter penalties for those caught producing or distributing fake alcohol, and public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the dangers.

One of the drivers for the problem in Türkiye has been tax rises on alcoholic beverages, exacerbated by rampant inflation in recent years which was more than 70% in 2022, more than 50% in 2023 and around 47% last year. Those pressures have made alcohol from legitimate sources unaffordable for some people, encouraging them to seek our cheaper and less safe alternatives.