Overview

• The German Foreign Office has issued a travel advisory for Turkey, warning about methanol-laced alcohol in Istanbul and Ankara.
• Methanol, a toxic and odorless substance, has been found in counterfeit alcoholic beverages, leading to cases of poisoning and fatalities.
• Symptoms of methanol poisoning include dizziness, nausea, headaches, and in severe cases, blindness or death; early symptoms may mimic a typical alcohol-induced state.
• Tourists are advised to purchase alcohol only in sealed, original packaging with official licensing marks, such as tax banderoles, to avoid counterfeit products.
• The advisory highlights the dangers of consuming unregulated alcohol, which has proliferated due to increased taxes on alcoholic beverages in Turkey.