Raki, the Turkish anise-flavored spirit, is so much more than just a drink. It is deeply rooted in Turkish culture and an essential part of the country's lively culinary tradition. Meals that take hours, lots of laughter and communal singing are all hallmarks of an evening during which raki is imbibed.

Famous Turkish poet Orhan Veli Kanik once said he'd like to be a fish living in a raki bottle. Turkish pop legend Sezen Aksu sang about a drunken night where the raki flows. Even the man known as the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, was famous for his hospitality, serving raki generously when he hosted friends and artists.

But more recently raki has been getting a different kind of reputation: It's become known as the guilty party in an increasing number of deaths from alcohol poisoning, in particular in Turkey's major cities — Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir — as well as at Turkish holiday destinations.

This year, there's been a dramatic increase in deaths because of "fake" or bootleg alcohol. Since the beginning of 2025, at least 160 people have died as a result of consuming illegally-produced alcohol. According to Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, by the end of February the government had seized 648,000 liters of illegally produced raki, vodka, gin and other sprints. The government had also arrested 560 suspects.

Prices for alcoholic drinks have increased significantly in Turkey over the past few years due to rising taxes. A bottle of raki now costs around €35 ($38). Given that the monthly minimum wage is about €572 ($617), those sorts of prices make raki unaffordable for many ordinary Turks. In Germany, for example, a bottle of raki is much cheaper, usually........

© Deutsche Welle