Fake alcohol kills 50 people in Iran this year

More than 50 people in Iran have died after consuming fake alcohol between March and September this year, new figures reveal.

Data has revealed that 53 people have died during the Iranian calendar year after drinking toxic counterfeit alcohol

According to Kambiz Sultani, head of the Forensic Medical Examination Department of Iranian Justice Ministry, 53 people died in the Iranian calendar year after drinking fake, toxic alcohol, reports Trend.

While the figure is 31% less than in 2013, Sultani said the creation of homemade alcohol which contains toxic substances such as methanol is still high.

The country’s Health Commission states that more than 200 million litres of alcoholic beverages are produced illegally in Iran every year.

Under Iranian law, it is illegal for the country’s Muslim citizens to consume alcohol.

Numerous countries around the world battle the illicit production of alcohol, which leads to a high number of fatalities every year.

In October 2013, 40 people died after drinking toxic bootleg leg alcohol in northern India while celebrating a religious festival. The Czech Republic entered partial prohibition in 2012 when more than 30 people died after consuming methanol-laced spirits.