At Least 25 Dead After Drinking 90p Bottles of Methanol-Laced Vodka in Russia
A deadly tragedy has struck Russia’s Leningrad region, where at least 25 people have died after downing cheap, bootleg vodka bottles priced at just 90p. Authorities confirmed victims’ bodies contained fatal levels of methanol, a toxic chemical sometimes used to cut counterfeit booze.
Nursery Teacher Arrested for Supplying Poisoned Moonshine
Police have arrested 60-year-old nursery teacher Olga Stepanova, accused of supplying the toxic vodka. The deadly liquor was sold to 78-year-old Nikolai Boytsov, who then sold it for just 90p a bottle. Horrifyingly, Boytsov’s own 75-year-old wife is among the dead, believed to have been poisoned by the lethal drink.
Eight other suspects involved in producing and distributing the deadly alcohol are also in custody. Authorities have seized over 1,000 litres of illegal vodka, fearing the death toll could rise.
Methanol Poisoning Crisis Worsens as Bootleg Liquor Booms
The Russian Interior Ministry confirmed the cause: “Forensic medical examination revealed lethal levels of methanol.” Methanol is a cheap but deadly chemical sometimes used to stretch fake vodka supplies. With alcohol prices soaring amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, many pensioners and vulnerable Russians are turning to illicit booze — unaware of the life-threatening risks.
Methanol poisoning can cause blindness, organ failure, and death hours after consumption, making it a silent killer of the desperate and unwary.
Deadly Methanol Masquerading as Vodka
Methanol looks and smells like the safe alcohol (ethanol) found in drinks but is far more dangerous. Once swallowed, it breaks down into formaldehyde and formic acid — chemicals used in glue and embalming. This makes methanol poisoning brutally toxic and often fatal.
It may be added deliberately to cut costs and boost profits or accidentally produced through improper distillation. Its effects often don’t show until it’s too late.
International Warning After Similar Methanol Deaths
This tragedy echoes previous methanol poisonings worldwide. Last year, six tourists died in Laos after drinking fake booze laced with methanol. British backpacker Calum Macdonald was left blind following similar poisoning.
The deadly risks of cheap, fake alcohol continue to claim lives — a grim warning to stay clear of suspiciously cheap booze.
