Fake Russian Vodka Kills

(Moscow, Russia) As the world's largest consumer of vodka, Russia loses many citizens yearly due to alcohol poisoning and alcohol-related sickness. In recent months, fake vodka has added to the death toll.

From AlertNet.org:

A Russian region has imposed a state of emergency after more than 400 people were taken to hospital and 15 died as a result of drinking tainted alcohol, Russian television reported on Thursday.

The state of emergency was declared in the Pskov region, about 700 km (435 miles) west of Moscow, but other regions across the country also reported mass outbreaks of alcohol poisoning with dozens of deaths.

Public health officials who seized alcohol on sale in the Pskov region found it contained substances usually used in medicines, Channel One television said.

Many of the imbibers exhibit liver problems. Authorities are investigating.