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

At least 25 people have died from suspected methanol poisoning, and several others have been injured in Russia after consuming bootleg vodka.

Reports from Metro UK, Reuters, and Russian news outlet Izvestia indicate that residents of Slantsy, in Russia’s Leningrad region, were affected in a “mass poisoning” on Friday, Sept. 26, after drinking 90-proof vodka (around 45% ABV).

According to Izvestia, all victims consumed illegally sold alcohol that appeared to contain methanol. Tests revealed elevated methanol levels in all of the deceased.

Authorities have detained 78-year-old Nikolai Boytsov and 60-year-old Olga Stepanova as part of the investigation. Officers discovered empty glass bottles and plastic cans in Boytsov’s apartment. Stepanova is accused of supplying the bootleg liquor to Boytsov, who reportedly sold bottles for about $1 each, according to Metro.

Boytsov is also alleged to have poisoned his own wife with the alcohol. Eight more suspects have been arrested for producing and distributing the illegal vodka, Metro reported. One suspect was preventively jailed for one month and 30 days, the Slantsevsky City Court of the Leningrad Region confirmed on Saturday, per Izvestia.

Authorities are concerned about further casualties after seizing more than 1,000 liters (approximately 264 gallons) of the bootleg alcohol during the investigation, Metro noted.

Methanol is extremely toxic. Mount Sinai hospital warns that as little as two tablespoons can be lethal to a child, while 2 to 8 ounces may be deadly for an adult. Symptoms of methanol poisoning include difficulty breathing, blindness, dizziness, seizures, severe abdominal pain, and death.

The chemical is commonly found in household cleaners, windshield wiper fluid, antifreeze, and other household products. Because it is colorless and odorless, bootleggers often use it to cut costs when making illicit alcohol. Anyone who has consumed methanol, or suspects they have, should seek immediate medical attention.

The U.K.’s travel advisory recommends purchasing drinks only from licensed bars or shops, avoiding homemade or unsealed alcohol, and being cautious with cocktails.

Reuters reports that the distribution of homemade alcohol has risen in Russia, sometimes with fatal consequences, due in part to rising retail alcohol prices and regional sales restrictions.

In June 2023, at least 30 people in western Russia died after drinking homemade cider. A similar incident occurred in Laos last year, where methanol poisoning claimed the lives of at least five tourists, including one American.