Russia’s “surrogate” alcohol problem took a deadly turn over the weekend, with scores of people in the Siberian city Irkutsk drinking poisonous bath oil that contained alcohol. Seventy-two have died, leaving three children orphaned, and another 46 have been hospitalized in the city that hugs the world’s deepest lake, Baikal.
The mass poisoning was a startling reminder of the economic woes Russia has faced under the double blow of low oil prices and Western sanctions, and its growing surrogate alcohol crisis. Up to 12 million Russians each year drink surrogate alcohol, which can include perfume, after-shave, antifreeze, and window cleaner.
“People don’t have the money to buy a normal product in the store, so they search for something cheaper, and cheaper as a rule is surrogate alcohol,” said Alexander Nikishin, director of the National Museum of Russian Vodka. “It’s a problem of people lacking money.”