Post by angryumpire on May 24, 2013 11:45:50 GMT 2
Turkish government imposes strict ban on alcohol sales and ads
Turkish government is tightening restrictions on sale of alcohol.
The Turkish government imposed a strict ban on alcohol advertising and tightened restrictions on sales, totally prohibiting the sale of alcohol in stores from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. -- a proposal the government insists is aimed at protecting the young from the negative effects of alcohol consumption.
The severe limitation on sale of alcohol stirred debates in social media after the bill led by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), was approved in Parliament late on Thursday.
Proposed by AK Party parliamentary group Deputy Chairman Nurettin Canikli and AK Party Ankara Deputy Cevdet Erdöl, the bill first will regulate TV series and ads which include alcohol, and suggest deleting images of alcohol on television.
The bill also bars the sale of alcohol anywhere within 100 meters (yards) of mosques, schools and other educational centers, which could lead to the eventual cancellation of several establishments' alcohol licenses. Advertising alcoholic products in any form were also banned.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan, a pious Muslim whose ruling party is rooted in Turkey's conservative movement, has made no secret of his aim to curtail alcohol consumption in this predominantly Muslim, but secular country, saying it is his constitutional duty to protect the well-being of the young.
Since coming to power in 2002, the ruling party has imposed high taxes on alcoholic beverages, banned television ads and forbidden drink companies from sponsoring sports events. Turkish Airlines, the country's national carrier, recently stopped serving alcoholic drinks on some of its flights.
Secular opponents of the bill say Erdoðan is increasingly meddling in more liberal lifestyles. They say the measure is an affront to personal choices, and some accuse his ruling party of trying to gradually impose an Islamic agenda.
"No one can be forced to drink or not to drink. This is a religious and ideological imposition," Musa Çam, a legislator from the secular, main opposition party said in a speech in Parliament. "This is not a struggle against the ills of alcohol but is an attempt to re-design the society according to their belief and lifestyle."
Under the bill, alcohol companies would no longer be allowed to promote their brands and logos, while all liquor bottles sold in Turkey would display warning signs about the harms of alcohol, similar to those found on cigarette packages.
Erdoðan frequently cites Turkey's constitution in saying that the state is responsible for protecting the young from alcohol, drugs and gambling and insists he is committed to secular politics and to Turkey's bid to join the European Union
This posting has been summarised from an article in " Today's Zaman"
