Eleven people have died in the past 24 hours in Istanbul, Turkey, after drinking toxic liquor, reports the state news agency Anadolu.
38 people, including 26 foreign nationals, have been hospitalized in the city with symptoms of poisoning over the past 24 hours. The cause is believed to be liquor mixed with methanol – an alcohol that is extremely toxic and dangerous compared to the ethanol normally found in spirits.
Last year, a total of 110 people fell ill after drinking dangerous liquor in Istanbul, of which 48 died, according to Turkish authorities.
The occurrence of illegal alcohol has become increasingly common in Turkey. Since the authorities raised taxes on alcoholic beverages, private production has increased sharply.
The most commonly counterfeited product is raki, Turkey's national spirit with an anise flavor, whose price has skyrocketed.
