Businesses closed in Istanbul due to unlicensed alcohol sales/Photo: EPA-EFE/AHMED JALIL

19 people died from counterfeit alcohol in Istanbul in three days

In Istanbul, 19 people have died from consuming counterfeit alcohol in the past 72 hours, local authorities said. A total of 65 people, including 26 foreign nationals, have been hospitalized for the same reason, authorities said on Tuesday.

Istanbul Governor Davut Gul announced that the licenses of 63 shops had been revoked and the businesses had been closed.

"All those who cause deaths by selling counterfeit alcohol have been identified and brought to justice. Please be careful – the deaths are increasing," Gul wrote on social media.

In his post, he highlighted a directive issued by the governor's office to combat the spread of counterfeit alcohol, which states that businesses found to be involved in unlicensed alcohol sales or contributing to deaths will be permanently revoked.

Additionally, the governor's office revealed that 110 people were poisoned by alcohol in Istanbul in 2024, with 48 of them succumbing to the toxic effects. The problem persists despite increased inspections by law enforcement agencies and monitoring teams.

Illegal alcohol production remains rampant in Turkey, fueled by the high prices of legal alcoholic beverages. Taking advantage of the situation, illegal alcohol producers often use cheaper but toxic substances such as methyl alcohol, leading to an increase in deaths.

Experts say even small amounts of methyl alcohol can be fatal, with survivors facing serious health consequences including blindness, kidney failure and neurological disorders.

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