25+ Dead After Drinking Toxic Vodka Laced With Methanol
Toxic, methanol-laced, vodka kills and sickens many. Here is the story based on Russian news outlets and the first English reporting from Metro UK.
A deadly poisoning outbreak in Slantsy, a town in Russia’s Leningrad region, has claimed more than 25 lives, with additional victims receiving hospital treatment.
The tragedy unfolded after residents consumed illegally manufactured vodka contaminated with methanol, a toxic substance never intended for human consumption. Yet sadly often found in bootleg alcohol.
Tests revealed that the fatalities were caused by methanol poisoning rather than the alcohol content itself. The homemade spirits contained about 45% alcohol by volume, slightly stronger than the U.S. average of 40% for vodka. The true danger lay in the illegal production process and resulting contamination, not in the alcohol percentage.
The Crime
Law enforcement arrested two initial suspects: a 78-year-old man named Nikolai Boytsov and 60-year-old Olga Stepanova. According to investigators, Stepanova acted as a supplier while Boytsov handled distribution, allegedly selling contaminated bottles at roughly what would be $1 in the United States.
Authorities discovered manufacturing evidence—including empty containers and bottles—when searching Boytsov’s house. Tragically, his own wife numbered among the deceased, and he now faces accusations of causing her death.
The investigation has since expanded to include eight more individuals allegedly involved in producing and distributing the toxic liquor.
Arrests + Investigation
Eight additional suspects have since been arrested in connection with the production and sale of the vodka.
During a search, investigators found empty bottles and plastic containers in Boytsov’s apartment. He is also accused of poisoning his wife, one of the victims.
Eight additional suspects have since been arrested in connection with the production and sale of the vodka. One suspect has been preventively jailed for one month and 30 days, according to the Slantsevsky City Court of the Leningrad Region.
The prosecutor’s office said another woman, born in 1964, was also arrested. She is accused of illegally purchasing, storing, and selling the alcohol that led to the deaths.
Officials fear more deaths may occur. More than 1,000 liters (about 264 gallons) of the tainted liquor were seized during the investigation.
What is methanol?
Methanol is a highly toxic industrial chemical often found in products like paint thinners, nail polish removers, antifreeze, windshield washer fluid, industrial adhesives, and household cleaning solutions. Because it is colorless and has little to no smell, unethical producers sometimes mix it into bootleg alcohol to cut costs.
Even small amounts of methanol can be harmful. Low-level exposure may trigger headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. As the body metabolizes methanol into poisonous byproducts, symptoms can escalate to blurred or lost vision, severe abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, confusion, seizures, and death. Children are especially vulnerable, a few tablespoons can be fatal. In adults, ingesting as little as two to eight ounces can result in death.
Bigger Picture
Russia has experienced multiple bootleg alcohol tragedies. Further, Methanol poisoning from contaminated alcohol has caused fatalities worldwide.
In 2022, British tourist Kirsty McKie, 38, died in Bali, Indonesia, after consuming methanol-laced cocktails at her rented villa, despite sourcing alcohol from reputable suppliers
In November 2024, six tourists, including an American, two Australians, a Brit, a French national, and a Dutch citizen, died in Vang Vieng, Laos, after consuming methanol-laced vodka shots at Nana Backpackers Hostel.
These cases show a pattern: money problems, alcohol bans, and weak rules make things more dangerous in poor or rural areas. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) says thousands of people are affected every year worldwide, with 20–40% dying if they don’t get treatment. To stay safe, buy sealed bottles from licensed stores and avoid free pours or homemade alcohol, especially in high-risk places.
