The Number of Victims of 'Fake Alcohol' in Gilan Rises to 18

The head of Gilan University of Medical Sciences announced an increase in the number of victims of fake alcoholic beverages in the province, stating that the death toll from alcoholic beverages in Gilan has reached 18. Mohammad Taghi Ashoubi told Mehr News Agency on Tuesday, October 15, that 'to date, 66 patients with severe poisoning symptoms due to the consumption of industrial ethanol have been admitted to medical centers in Rasht, of which 18 have lost their lives.' According to Mr. Ashoubi, of the total patients who have visited medical centers, 37 required dialysis and three of them faced vision problems. About two weeks ago, Iranian media reported the deaths of four people in Hamedan due to the consumption of 'fake alcoholic beverages' and an increase in the number of victims in Gilan and Mazandaran provinces. Reports indicated that the number of victims of fake alcoholic beverages in Iran had reached 26 within just four days, with 13 in Mazandaran, 9 in Gilan, and 4 in Hamedan. Since the 1979 Revolution in Iran, the production and consumption of alcoholic beverages have been banned, leading to the trafficking and exchange of alcohol in the black market. Consequently, there is no control over its quality, and in some cases, methanol is added as a cheaper substitute for ethanol. This issue is the main cause of deaths and irreparable physical harm from consuming homemade alcohol in workshops, as impurities from methanol lead to poisoning. Methanol, or wood alcohol, is a toxic substance, and drinking it can cause poisoning, blindness, and in some cases, death. In recent years, various cities in Iran have witnessed waves of deaths among citizens due to the consumption of such fake alcoholic beverages.