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Turkey's alcohol restrictions spark boost in bootleg booze

The Turkish government’s hefty taxes on alcohol have led to bootleg liquor production, which has claimed at least 26 lives over the past month.
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The main topic of conversation in Turkey these days is neither the Nov. 1 elections nor President Recep Tayyip Erdogan nor the anticipated hike in the minimum wage. The main topic, especially in Turkey's ever-busy favorite neighborhood pubs, is something else: bootleg raki.

The aniseed-flavored national drink has joined the bootleg market, and deadly counterfeit production has repeatedly made the headlines over the past decade. The latest wave of deaths began Oct. 22 with a person who perished in the hospital after drinking bootleg raki. As of Nov. 5, the number of fatalities stood at 26 amid rumors the death toll is actually higher.

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