At Least 25 People Are Dead After Drinking $1 Bottles of Vodka Laced with Methanol By Charlotte Phillipp

At least 25 people have died from suspected methanol poisoning and several more have been injured in Russia after they drank bootleg vodka.

According to reports from Metro UK, Reuters and Russian news outlet Izvestia, a group of people in Slantsy, located in Russia’s Leningrad region, were involved in a “mass poisoning” on Friday, Sept. 26, after consuming 90 proof vodka (or about 45% ABV).

Izvestia reported that all the victims consumed illegally sold alcohol products seemingly containing methanol. The outlet added that all of the deceased were found to have elevated levels of methanol in their system.

Nikolai Boytsov, 78, and Olga Stepanova, 60, were detained during an investigation into the deaths. Authorities said they found empty glass bottles and plastic cans in Boytsov’s apartment. Stepanova is accused of supplying the bootleg liquor to Boytsov, who then allegedly sold bottles for about $1 each, per Metro.

Authorities said Boytsov is also accused of poisoning his wife, who is one of the deceased, with the alcohol. Eight more suspects have since been arrested for producing and distributing the vodka, Metro reported.

One of the suspects was preventively jailed for one month and 30 days, the Slantsevsky City Court of the Leningrad Region announced on Saturday, per Izvestia.

Authorities fear people could die from the bootleg alcohol after more than 1,000 liters (about 264 gallons) of it were seized during the investigation, per Metro.

Methanol is extremely dangerous, and Mount Sinai hospital states that as little as 2 tablespoons can be deadly to a child, and about 2 to 8 ounces can be deadly for an adult. Consuming the chemical can result in difficulty breathing, blindness, dizziness, seizures, severe abdominal pain and death.

Methanol is commonly found in household cleaners, windshield wiper fluid, antifreeze and other household products. As it’s colorless and odorless, bootleggers making their own alcohol have often used it to cut costs.

Anyone who has consumed methanol or believes they have consumed it should seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

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The U.K.’s travel advisory states that people should only purchase drinks from legitimate bars and licensed shops, avoid homemade alcohol and unsealed bottled alcohol, and be conscious about cocktails.

According to Reuters, some experts believe Russia has seen a rise in homemade alcohol distribution, sometimes with deadly consequences, as the country has experienced rising retail prices for alcohol and has put in place several regional restrictions on its sale.

In June 2023, at least 30 people died in western Russia after drinking a homemade cider. A similar incident took place in Laos last year, when at least five tourists died after suffering methanol poisoning, including one American.