19 dead in İstanbul after drinking bootleg alcohol

Nineteen people have died in İstanbul after consuming bootleg alcohol laced with methanol, with dozens more being treated for poisoning, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency.

The death toll, which rose from 11 reported on Tuesday, comes as the İstanbul Governor’s Office revealed that 110 people were poisoned by tainted alcohol in 2024, of which 48 lost their lives.

Methanol, a toxic substance often added to illicit alcohol to increase potency, is believed to be the cause. Methanol poisoning can result in severe consequences, including blindness, liver damage, and death.

Alcohol-related poisonings are a recurring issue in Turkey, where illicit production has surged amid steep taxes on alcoholic beverages. The most commonly counterfeited drink is raki, Turkey’s national liquor, which now costs approximately 1,300 Turkish lira ($37) per litre in supermarkets.

Critics blame President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s administration for exacerbating the crisis, accusing it of imposing high taxes and discouraging alcohol consumption as part of a broader agenda to Islamise Turkish society.

With the minimum wage at 17,000 lira ($480) per month, many Turks are turning to cheaper, illegal alternatives, risking their lives in the process.