At least thirty-three people have died, and another 48 have been hospitalized in Istanbul, Turkey since Monday Jan. 17 due to the consumption of adulterated alcoholic beverages, as reported by the Turkish state news agency Anadolu on Thursday evening.
According to Istanbul authorities the fatalities are believed to have been caused by the consumption of adulterated alcohol containing methanol – a type of industrial alcohol that is unsuitable for drinking.
Istanbul authorities issued an official announcement late Thursday night stating that four individuals suspected of selling the adulterated alcoholic beverages had been arrested and were facing charges of premeditated murder, in a series of cases.
Since Jan. 1, 29 tons of adulterated or illegal alcoholic beverages have been confiscated in Istanbul, and 64 businesses selling them have had their operating licenses revoked, authorities added.
Owners of alcohol trading companies have placed partial blame on Turkish authorities for the fatalities, arguing that exorbitant taxes on alcoholic beverages indirectly fuel illegal alcohol production and sales. They claim that the high tax burden drives consumers and suppliers toward unregulated markets, exacerbating the problem of adulterated drinks.
In 2024, the death toll of people who lost their lives due to the consumption of adulterated alcoholic beverages reached 48, according to Istanbul authorities.
It should be noted that Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a conservative politician and devout Muslim who has repeatedly been accused by his opponents of seeking to Islamize Turkey’s public administration and society, has taken a public stance against the consumption of both alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.
