At least 152 people have died in Turkey from consuming adulterated alcohol since the beginning of this year, according to a report by Turkey’s state-run news agency Anadolu on Wednesday.
Earlier, last Friday, Turkish media published updated statistics on deaths caused by counterfeit alcohol. At that time, it was reported that 133 people had lost their lives due to consuming toxic alcohol across the country. Among them, 70 were from Istanbul and 63 from Ankara. Additionally, 36 people were in intensive care after falling ill from the poisonous liquor.
Although alcohol is not banned in the Muslim-majority country of Turkey, high taxation has significantly increased its price in recent years. The government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has imposed strict regulations and heavy taxes on alcohol manufacturers. In 2025, the government introduced new taxes on alcohol and tobacco products.
The consumption of counterfeit alcohol has resulted in frequent fatalities in Turkey. However, the number of deaths has risen sharply in a short period this year. Taking advantage of the situation, some unscrupulous alcohol manufacturers are selling homemade liquor at much lower prices. Initially, they sold these products only to regular drinkers, but now, these illicit liquors are available in various shops and restaurants.
To increase the intoxication level, the makers of these homemade liquors often mix excessive amounts of methanol, ethanol (spirit), and other harmful chemicals. As a result, many people fall seriously ill and even die after consuming these adulterated drinks.
Due to the high methanol content, many drinkers are experiencing blindness, liver damage, and even death. Experts warn that just one glass of methanol-laced liquor can be fatal, with symptoms appearing within six hours of consumption.
According to Turkey’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, as reported by Anadolu, police have arrested 983 people involved in the production and sale of counterfeit alcohol. Additionally, authorities have seized 445,016 liters of adulterated liquor.