ANKARA, Dec 29 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Amid soaring liquor prices and a currency slump, bootleg alcohol has claimed the lives of at least 75 people, in two weeks in Turkey, while security forces ramped up controls nationwide, ahead of the New Year celebrations.
Turkish Interior Ministry announced that, a nationwide operation, code-named “Alcohol,” one of the biggest so far, was launched, amid a rising number of deaths from bootleg alcohol across the country.
Police and gendarmerie forces searched 23,103 locations, in a crackdown on bootleg drink sellers, the ministry said, adding, 20,863 personnel took part in operations “to curb the access to smuggled/bootleg drinks to protect public health.”
Over 20,000 litres of counterfeit alcohol was seized, the police announced yesterday.
Four people died and two others were in critical condition, after consuming bootleg alcohol on Sunday, in the southern Mediterranean province of Mersin, while another person died in Ordu Province in northern Turkey, bringing the overall death toll to 75 in 21 provinces, local news outlets said, quoting police statements.
In Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, nearly 30 have died from bootleg alcohol.
Over 100 suspects have been detained in the last 10 days, and tens of thousands of litres of counterfeit alcohol were seized, ahead of the New Year celebrations, usually involving more alcohol consumption, security forces said.
Deaths from illicit alcohol poisoning are rather common in Turkey, where people try to get cheaper alcohol as prices have soared in recent years, amid an avalanche of taxes.
Bootleg alcohol is made from low-cost methyl alcohol, instead of ethyl alcohol. The consumption of illegally distilled liquor can cause permanent blindness, metabolic disturbances and death.
However, more people have died this year in a short period of time, as the Turkish lira has lost 37 percent of its value, since the start of the year which also had an impact on alcoholic beverage prices.
President Erdogan has frequently voiced opposition to alcohol sales and consumption. In Turkey, shops are now forbidden to sell alcohol after 10.00 p.m. local time, and it has become more difficult for stores and restaurants to obtain an alcohol license.
According to surveys, alcohol consumption remains modest in Turkey, compared with other European countries. Only about 20 percent of adults drink regularly in the Muslim nation, as Islam bans alcohol.– NNN-ANADOLU
