Photo: THE STRAITSTIMES

ISTANBUL, Feb 26, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - At least 152 people have died in Turkey
since the start of the year after drinking bootleg alcohol, state news agency
Anadolu reported Wednesday.

The figure updated an earlier figure of 133 dead given last Friday by Turkish
media, which included 70 in Istanbul and 63 in Ankara, where an additional 36
patients were in intensive care.

Poisonings from adulterated alcohol are common in Turkey, where private
production has exploded as authorities crank up taxes on alcoholic drinks.

But this year, the death toll has climbed sharply in a short space of time.

Bootleg alcohol is often tainted with methanol, a toxic substance that can
cause blindness, liver damage and death. Experts saying just one glass can be
deadly, with the effects becoming apparent only six hours later.

Citing an interior ministry source, Anadolu said police had detained 983
people in connection with "the production and sale of counterfeit alcohol"
and seized 445,016 litres of product.

Although Turkey is a nominally secular country, alcohol taxes have risen
sharply under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a Muslim who vociferously
opposes drinking.

Buying a litre bottle of raki, Turkey's aniseed-flavoured national liquor,
from a supermarket currently costs around $35 in a country where the monthly
minimum wage is $600.

Critics say such high prices are fuelling the production of moonshine.