The problem of fake alcohol in Türkiye

(CLO) This year, the number of deaths due to "fake" or bootleg alcohol has increased sharply. Since the beginning of 2025, at least 160 people have died from drinking illegally produced alcohol.

According to Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, by the end of February, the country's authorities had seized 648,000 liters of illegally produced alcohol and arrested 560 suspects.

Visitors to Türkiye are now advised to exercise caution when drinking alcohol, ensuring the label on their wine bottle is not a copy and that the blue ribbon (a small seal on the bottle cap) is not damaged or tampered with.

The rising price of "genuine" wine has led to a proliferation of fake wine in Türkiye. Photo: Rudaw

The main cause of alcohol poisoning is the addition of cheap methanol instead of ethanol produced by fermenting grains. Methanol is extremely toxic and can lead to visual disturbances, vomiting, dizziness, organ failure and in the worst cases, death.

Methanol-containing drinks are almost indistinguishable from non-methanol drinks, said Cagin Tan Eroglu, an expert at Devletin Alkol Politikalarini Izleme Platformu. He noted that they smell the same, look the same, and even taste the same as regular alcohol.

Like many in Türkiye, Eroglu blames the government's tax policy for the huge price increases on drinks. Since 2013, value-added tax and consumption tax on alcohol have increased automatically every six months, leading to skyrocketing prices.

Taxes now account for about two-thirds of the price of hard liquor. And on top of that, the Turkish economy is suffering from hyperinflation. All of this has forced people to turn to the “black market” where they can get a cheaper alternative to the drink.

Turkish economist Ozan Bingol, a tax expert, recently added it all up. “Fifteen years ago, consumption tax alone was around 51.5 Turkish lira per liter of alcohol. Now it’s almost 1,366 lira [per liter]—a staggering 2,553% increase,” Bingol wrote on X in early February.

A bottle of traditional Turkish raki currently costs around $38. With the monthly minimum wage at around $610, such prices are out of reach for many ordinary Turks.

Quang Anh (according to DW)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/van-nan-ruou-rom-o-tho-nhi-ky-post337657.html