Overview

• Over the past three months, 109 deaths and 29 intensive care cases have been linked to methanol-contaminated alcohol in Ankara.
• The Turkish General Prosecutor’s Office has launched a formal investigation into the production and distribution of the tainted spirits.
• Authorities have detained 44 individuals suspected of involvement in the illicit alcohol trade.
• High taxation on legal alcohol in Turkey continues to fuel underground production, where methanol is often added to increase potency, leading to recurring poisoning outbreaks.
• Public health warnings and international travel advisories emphasize the dangers of consuming unregulated or uncertified alcoholic beverages in Turkey.