11 dead in Istanbul from bootleg alcohol, 63 establishments shut down
From the tube of the distillation cube flows into a jar of moonshine trickle. (Photo via Adobe Stock)
Turkish authorities have shut down 63 establishments and arrested two suspects in a sweeping crackdown on bootleg alcohol sales after 11 people died from poisoning in Istanbul over the past 48 hours.
Istanbul Governor Davut Gul announced the closures on social media, warning that “death cases are increasing” as authorities race to contain the latest wave of fatalities linked to counterfeit alcohol in Türkiye’s largest city.
The deaths are part of a broader Turkish bootleg alcohol crisis that killed 48 and sickened 110 in Istanbul throughout 2024, according to official figures released by the governor’s office.
“Everyone responsible for selling illegal alcohol and causing deaths will be identified and brought to justice,” Governor Gul said in his statement.
New regulations tighten control on bootleg alcohol sales
The crackdown comes as authorities implement stricter regulations on alcohol sales. Under a directive issued in October 2024, establishments selling alcohol must maintain 24/7 video surveillance systems.
A new mandate enacted on Jan. 10, 2025, further tightened controls by revoking business licenses of establishments caught selling counterfeit or smuggled alcohol.
The governor’s office has established a coordinated response between law enforcement and administrative units to enforce the new regulations.
Businesses must now possess proper certification from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s Tobacco and Alcohol Department and can only operate within designated zones approved by local municipal councils.
Local officials, including district governors and mayors, are legally required to enforce these regulations or face administrative sanctions and potential criminal charges, according to the governor’s statement.
