A recent party in Alborz province, Iran, approximately 25 miles west of Tehran, ended tragically with ten confirmed fatalities due to methanol-tainted alcohol. According to reports from the IRNA news agency, dozens of attendees were hospitalized last week after consuming the contaminated beverage. Officials have confirmed over 140 individuals fell ill, with four remaining in critical condition.

The production and consumption of alcoholic beverages have been prohibited in Iran since 1979. This prohibition has led to the dangerous practice of using methanol, a cheaper alternative to ethanol, in homemade alcoholic drinks. Consumption of alcohol in Iran carries penalties of fines and lashings. The country's 40 alcohol factories have shifted their production to pharmaceuticals and sanitizers.

This incident is part of a growing trend in Iran. Abbas Masjedi, head of Iran's forensic medicine agency, reported 644 deaths from tainted alcohol consumption in 2022, a 30% increase from 2021. Methanol is highly toxic, causing delayed organ and brain damage. Symptoms can include chest pain, nausea, hyperventilation, blindness, and coma.

Such tragedies are not uncommon in Iran, with bootleg alcohol often being the source. One study revealed that between September and October 2018 alone, 768 people were poisoned by methanol, resulting in 76 deaths. The problem was further exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, with hundreds of deaths and illnesses attributed to methanol consumption fueled by false information circulating on social media promoting high-proof alcohol as a preventative measure against the virus.