At Least 25 Dead After Drinking Contaminated Vodka

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Twenty-five people have died and several more are injured after drinking contaminated vodka in Russia, reported multiple outlets, including Reuters.

Ten Suspects in Custody After 'Mass Poisoning'

The “mass poisoning” occurred in Slansty, located within the Leningrad region, on Sept. 26 after the parties consumed 90 proof (roughly 45 percent ABV) vodka which was contaminated with methanol. According to a post-mortem examination, each of the deceased individuals had elevated levels of methanol in their system. Two suspects—Nikolai Boytsov, 78, and Olga Stepanova, 60—have been detained in connection with the deaths.

Authorities claim that they located empty alcohol bottles as well as plastic cans in Boytsov's residence. Stepanova has been accused of supplying the bootleg liquor to Boytsov, who then allegedly sold the bottles for about $1 each. Boystov’s wife was one of the people who died after consuming the tainted liquor, though the circumstances surrounding her demise are unclear. In addition to Boystov and Stepanova, a further eight suspects have been arrested for producing and distributing the contaminated liquor.

Authorities Seized 264 Gallons of Vodka

Authorities reportedly seized 264 gallons of illicit vodka during the investigation, all of which was produced using methanol rather than the ethanol (ethyl alcohol) which is typically used in the distillation of alcohol. Methanol is an extremely dangerous chemical which can cause breathing difficulty, blindness, dizziness, seizures, severe abdominal pain, and death. As little as two tablespoons of methanol can be deadly to young children, according to Mount Sinai.

This most recent incident comes on the heels of a June 2023 incident in which 30 people in western Russia died after consuming homemade cider. Russia has seen an increase in bootleg alcohol distribution of late due to the rising price of alcohol and certain regional restrictions regarding its sale. However, the issue has plagued the country since the fall of the Soviet Union, when ethyl alcohol became more expensive and more difficult to obtain. At the time, there was no active government in Russia, and so no purification methods were in place, nor were there any regulations controlling the black market industry.