Teens Poisoned by Fake Alcohol Bought on Snapchat
Swedish teens were poisoned by counterfeit alcohol purchased through Snapchat, leading to five arrests. Police urge parents to discuss alcohol safety with their children as social media creates new avenues for dangerous underground markets.

Stockholm teenagers have been hospitalized after drinking counterfeit alcohol purchased through Snapchat. Police in Western Sweden arrested five suspects in connection with the case. Authorities now urge parents to discuss the dangers of illegal alcohol with their children. Police spokesperson Christian Brattgård said in a statement that young people face extreme risks from this type of contaminated alcohol. He explained that counterfeit spirits often contain dangerous substances like methanol instead of ethanol. This incident highlights how social media platforms facilitate dangerous underground markets. Swedish police regularly warn about unregulated alcohol containing toxic chemicals. The recent poisonings occurred despite ongoing public awareness campaigns. Parents should monitor their children's online activities and discuss alcohol safety openly. This case shows that digital platforms create new challenges for controlling illegal substances.