Bootleg liquor kills 44

Ankara: Fortyfour people in Turkey have died from bootleg alcohol poisoning over the past week, state media reported yesterday, as more Turks opt for cheaper options after sharp rises in liquor taxes.

Police said they had detained 58 people over the past four days for producing and selling bootleg alcohol.

Turkey’s Islamistrooted ruling AK Party has imposed high taxes on alcohol. The tax on the national favourite, raki, an aniseflavoured spirit, has leapt by 443% in the past decade and the tax on beer by 365%. A 700ml bottle of raki costs about 170 lira ($NZ32), taxed 234% over the original price. — Reuters