Dozens Fall Sick, One Die After Consuming Alcohol in Dry Iran

Shiraz authorities arrested three people in connection with a gathering where several people became ill after consuming alcoholic beverages. 

One person, a dermatologist named Farzaneh Akbari, has died.

The Shiraz prosecutor's office, quoted by Mizan News on April 29, stated that 28 people were poisoned, with one fatality. 

Reports vary on the type of alcohol consumed. Some sources, including Fars News Agency, suggest poisoned "sealed whiskey," while others mention "non-standard and handmade" beverages.

Iran's ban on alcohol production and sale fosters a black market for unregulated drinks, leading to such incidents.

The exact number of alcohol poisoning deaths in Iran remains unclear. 

However, a June 2023 report by the head of forensic medicine indicated 644 fatalities in the previous Iranian year.