Bootleg alcohol kills 33 in Ankara as crackdown begins

Ankara, Feb 7 (EFE).— At least 33 people have died in Ankara this week after consuming adulterated alcohol, with 20 more in intensive care, local authorities said Friday.

Turkish police have launched a crackdown, arresting 13 suspects and seizing over 100 tons of methanol and ethanol.

Ankara Governor Vasip Sahin, appointed by Turkey’s Islamist-rooted AKP government, warned against alcohol consumption, urging citizens to buy only from authorized sellers.

His remarks come as Turkey faces repeated outbreaks of toxic alcohol poisoning, with 38 fatalities recorded last month.

The surge in illicit alcohol production has been linked to skyrocketing liquor taxes, which have been steadily raised by the government for religious and public health reasons.

Critics argue that these policies drive consumers toward dangerous alternatives.

Political backlash over alcohol taxes

Özgür Aybas, head of Turkey’s Alcohol and Tobacco Vendors Platform, blamed excessive taxation for the deaths, calling the price hikes a form of “lifestyle interference.”

Opposition lawmaker Zeliha Aksaz Sahbaz echoed the sentiment, urging the government to address the crisis.

“With taxes reaching 70 percent of retail prices, legal alcohol is out of reach for many, fueling the black market,” Sahbaz told Cumhuriyet.

Turkey’s signature anise-flavored spirit, raki, now costs around 25 euros per 0.7-liter bottle, over 60 percent of which is tax. As legal alcohol becomes increasingly unaffordable, the risk of poisoning from homemade and bootlegged liquor continues to rise. EFE

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