More than 40 dead from poisonous liquor in Turkey | Abroad

According to Turkish state broadcaster TRT, the deaths occurred in eight different provinces, including the metropolis of Istanbul. In many cases, the illegally distilled drink would have contained the highly toxic alcohol type methanol. Methanol intake can have serious consequences, including blindness.

The illegal firing of alcoholic drinks has boomed in Turkey in recent years. Since the conservative, Islamist AK Party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan came to power in 2002, the price of raki has risen many fold.

A bottle of the anise drink cost about eight lira in 2002. Today, a bottle of the favorite spirit of many Turks costs no less than 170 lira, converted 18.25 euros.

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