| Date | January 2025 – ongoing |
|---|---|
| Location | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Cause | Methanol poisoning (assumed) |
| Deaths | ≥40 |
| Non-fatal injuries | ≥93 |
| Arrests | 6 |
| Convicted | Intentional homicide |
The 2025 Istanbul alcohol poisonings refer to poisoning deaths related to bootleg alcohol consumption in Istanbul, Turkey in 2025. This included a surge of victims within a 72-hour period in January 2025, where at least 40 people died and 93 others required hospitalization, with at least 39 placed in intensive care. The deaths were attributed primarily to methanol poisoning from illegally produced alcohol.
Background
This incident followed several outbreaks of alcohol poisoning in Istanbul, including one in late 2024, during which 110 people were sickened after consuming tainted alcohol in Istanbul, resulting in 48 deaths.
The rise in bootleg alcohol production has been attributed to increased government taxes on legal alcoholic beverages. As of 2025, a liter of Raki, a traditional Turkish anise-flavored liquor, cost approximately 1,300 lira (US$37.20) in legal retail outlets, representing a significant expense relative to the nation's minimum wage set at 22,104 lira (US$600) per month as of January 1, 2025. Alcoholic beverages had reached all-time high prices also in part due to high inflation.
Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, amended legislation in 2013 to forbid the promotion and advertisement of alcohol products in Turkey. This has likely led to individuals turning to private alcohol producers, contributing to the severity of this incident.
Incident
Starting in mid-January 2025, approximately 93 people sought medical treatment in Istanbul hospitals, with at least 39 of those hospitalized requiring intensive care treatment. At least forty people were killed, including 17 people from Uzbekistan. The casualties were attributed to the consumption of counterfeit alcoholic beverages containing toxic substances, including methanol, a substance commonly used in illegally produced alcohol as a cheaper alternative to ethanol. Methanol poisoning can lead to severe health consequences, including liver damage, blindness, and death.
Response
The severity of the poisoning outbreak prompted immediate public health responses and law enforcement intervention. Turkish authorities launched an extensive crackdown on counterfeit alcohol production and distribution. The Governor of Istanbul's office reported on several enforcement actions which included the detention of six individuals suspected of selling counterfeit drinks, with criminal charges of "deliberate murder" filed against two suspects. The office also reported the seizure of 29 tons of bootleg alcohol in Istanbul raids since January 1, 2025, and the revoking of 64 business licenses for alleged involvement in counterfeit or smuggled alcohol sales. The Governor of Istanbul's office stated that it considered the illicit alcohol producers responsible for the fatalities as "no different from the terrorists who kill people."
The UK Foreign Office issued warnings to travelers in Turkey regarding the deaths, and urged them to avoid potentially suspicious drinks.
See also
References
- Gómez, Pablo (2025-01-16). "30 dead in Istanbul for drinking methylated spirits". hispanatolia.com. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
- ^ "Bootleg alcohol in Istanbul has killed 23 people in 48 hours, officials say - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 2025-01-15. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
- ^ "Bootleg alcohol claims lives of at least 30 in Istanbul while dozens are hospitalized". ABC News. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
- "Number of Uzbeks killed in Turkey after poisoning with homemade alcohol rises to 17". Azon Global. January 18, 2025. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
- "14 Uzbeks have died to date in Istanbul alcohol poisoning". The Tashkent Times. January 17, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
- "Bootleg alcohol claims lives of at least 30 people in Istanbul while dozens are hospitalized". The Washington Post. January 16, 2025.
- ^ Daftari, Amir (2025-01-16). "Istanbul bootleg alcohol kills 30, tourists warned as dozens hospitalized". Newsweek. Retrieved 2025-01-16.