Foreign, federal and development offices (FCDOs) have issued new warnings after several vacationers became seriously ill or died in popular tourist spots. The FCDO said that consumption of local spirits, which was illegally produced, caused many deaths in Turkey.
The advice updated on Friday said “it was caused by an increase in the number of deaths and serious illnesses in Turkey, including Ankara and Istanbul, and by drinking counterfeit bottles of illegally produced local spirits and branded alcohol.”
Currently, those planning to visit Turkey are required to take precautions.
These include purchasing alcohol only from licensed outlets, making sure the bottle seals are not broken, avoiding bottles with poor quality labels or incorrect spellings, and avoiding homemade alcoholic drinks.
If you or you are sick after consuming alcohol, you should seek emergency medical consultation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also continue to remind UK passport holders that their passport must remain at least 150 days from the date of arrival and at least one full blank page is required.
The guidance adds: “If you enter a land border, staff members must push their passports across the border and date them. Please check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet the requirements.
“Renew your passport as needed. If you don't have a valid travel document, your entry will be denied if you attempt to use a passport that was reported to be lost or stolen.”
