At least 17 people have died, and 22 others are being treated in hospitals after consuming tainted alcohol, according to reports from Turkish media on Wednesday.

Authorities have detained eight individuals suspected of supplying the illicit beverages, as reported by the state-run Anadolu news agency.

Last week, officials confiscated 410 liters of ethanol and methanol, along with 165 bottles of contraband alcohol and equipment used for producing alcoholic drinks.

Adulterated alcohol poisonings are a recurring issue in Turkey, fueled by a surge in home-based alcohol production as taxes on legal alcoholic beverages continue to rise.

In late 2021, over 25 people died within a few days across multiple regions from similar poisonings. A year earlier, approximately 40 fatalities were reported due to contaminated alcohol.

The high cost of legal alcoholic beverages has further driven the problem. Turkey’s traditional anise-flavored drink, raki, costs around 1,300 lira ($37.40) per liter, while the country’s minimum monthly wage is 17,000 lira ($489).

Critics of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been accused of attempting to Islamize the secular nation, point to his frequent condemnation of alcohol and tobacco consumption as part of the issue.

These incidents highlight the growing risks associated with unregulated alcohol in Turkey, particularly amid economic pressures and restrictive policies.