site.btaFake Alcohol in Turkiye: Personal or Public Issue?

The consumption and production of fake liquor in Turkiye has recently reached alarming proportions, raising concerns among the public and the state institutions. Experts from the departments combating smuggling and organized crime in the Istanbul Security Directorate have commented on TV programmes that the situation has escalated into a serious crisis in recent weeks.

Medical professionals are sounding the alarm as the number of people affected by drinking fake alcohol continues to rise.

According to media reports, more than 120 people have died from consuming counterfeit alcohol in Turkiye so far this year. Istanbul leads this grim statistic with over 70 fatalities, followed by Ankara and other cities. Dozens of people have been hospitalized, some of whom have been in intensive care and critical condition for days.

The authorities have launched large-scale operations against the producers and distributors of illicit spirits. Experts note, however, that enforcement efforts are hindered by the fact that production often takes place in clandestine workshops located in private homes and underground facilities.

Istanbul Governor Davut Gul told Turkish journalists that security forces had uncovered several illegal distilleries in the city in January, seizing over 90,000 litres of counterfeit spirits. He said that 190 people were detained, 11 of whom were arrested on charges of smuggling and intentional homicide. The rest are subject to judicial proceedings without detention. There are Uzbeks among those involved.

Meanwhile, Ankara Governor Vasip Sahin announced the seizure of over 102 tons of ethyl and methyl alcohol, which are used in the production of counterfeit spirits. Of this amount, 40 tons were seized in Ankara, and 62 tons in Duzce and Konya.

In Ankara, 28 people have been detained on charges of smuggling fake alcohol and intentional homicide. Similar illegal alcohol production operations have been uncovered in the cities of Erzurum, Sanliurfa, Mersin, Çorum and Diyarbakir.

Turkiye suffers significant revenue losses due to the consumption of counterfeit alcohol. A study by ekonomim.com found that Turkiye lost about TRY 9 billion in 2023 due to illegal alcohol production, with forecasts predicting substantial losses in 2024 as well.

The tourism industry is also increasingly concerned. All-inclusive resorts attract millions of tourists to Turkiye, largely due to the unlimited amount of alcohol they offer. However, this is a mixed blessing, as previous seasons have seen fake alcohol deaths.

Local media report a growing number of foreign tourists complaining about the distribution of fake alcohol.