The UK, US and Canada have issued travel warnings for Turkey following reports of over 100 deaths linked to poisoning from unlicensed liquor in the past weeks. The victims are believed to have consumed illicit alcoholic contaminated with methanol.
According to official figures, as reported by Turkiye Today, Istanbul has recorded 70 deaths linked to counterfeit alcohol since January 14, while Ankara has reported a further 33 fatalities. Along with this, both cities have reported an increase in hospitalisations due to suspected methanol poisoning.
Methanol is a toxic substance and is often found in illicit liquor as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, which is safe to consume. It is sometimes added intentionally or created as a result of improper distillation processes.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) has warned travellers of the rise in death and serious illness and made the following recommendations:
- Buy alcoholic beverages only from licensed liquor stores
- Buy drinks only at licensed bars and hotels
- Avoid home-made alcoholic drinks
- Check bottle seals are intact
- Check labels for poor print quality or incorrect spelling.
Along with Turkey, Laos and Vietnam have both also seen an increase in incidents of tourist deaths after consuming tainted alcohol.
