A devastating situation is unfolding in Turkey, with more than 100 deaths reported due to fatal poisonings linked to local alcohol.
Brits travelling to Ankara and Istanbul are being warned as the crisis deepens. Since the start of the year, 103 fatalities have been recorded, with an additional 230 people hospitalised after consuming alcohol in these cities.
The deadly poisonings have reportedly been traced back to counterfeit alcohol and the Foreign Office is advising British holidaymakers to exercise extra caution when drinking.
The government is urging travellers to only purchase alcohol from licensed liquor stores and bars or hotels.
Once you’ve bought your drinks, it’s recommended that you double-check that all seals are intact. Be vigilant for poor-quality labels, misspellings, or other label discrepancies.
Avoid home-made alcoholic beverages and if you have any concerns, the Foreign Office suggests reaching out to the Turkish authorities. If you or someone you’re travelling with falls ill after drinking, seek immediate medical attention.
Turkey has also issued a warning about bootleg alcohol believed to be the source of the poisonings. The Independent has reported a surge in illicit booze being sold under the guise of well-known brands.
Local governors have reported that 13 individuals were apprehended in Ankara and another 11 in Istanbul in relation to the production of illicit alcohol.
As per NTV, a local news outlet, authorities confiscated 102 tons of methanol and ethanol, along with over 86,000 litres of smuggled alcohol.
Homemade or bootleg alcohol can be fatal if it accidentally has too much methanol as the distillation process is not as accurate as legitimate alcohol production.
Even minor quantities of this substance can pose severe risks, and symptoms often mimic those of alcohol consumption, such as nausea.
This could lead to individuals not recognising the grave danger they are in until it’s too late. Treatments like medication and dialysis are available in hospitals to treat methanol poisoning but need to be administered as soon as possible.
The current situation in Turkey eerily echoes the suspected lethal methanol poisoning that claimed the lives of six travellers last year in Laos.
This included British backpacker and lawyer Simone White, who reportedly died after consuming complimentary drinks in the Vang Vieng area.
