Travel warning for methanol poisoning in Turkey

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark warns against drinking suspected homemade alcohol in Turkey due to methanol poisoning risks. The travel advisory indicates that ingesting such alcohol can lead to severe illness or even death. The Turkish paper Hürriyet reported 22 fatalities linked to alcohol poisoning in Istanbul last week, with 24 individuals currently receiving medical treatment. Police seized 516 bottles in raids in Sultangazi and Fatih districts, and according to Anadolu news agency, eight arrests were made. Last November, six tourists, including two Danes, died in Laos from suspected methanol-laced alcohol. Methanol, often added to alcoholic beverages as a cheaper substitute for ethanol, is colorless and odorless, making it hard to detect. Symptoms of methanol consumption include unconsciousness and potential blindness or fatality. The Swedish embassy in Turkey also cautions travelers to purchase alcohol from authorized vendors only and to be wary of cocktails made with harmful substances.