http://www.france24.com/en/20130524-turkish-parliament-passes-law-curbing-alcohol-sales
QuoteTurkish parliament passes law curbing alcohol sales
AFP - Turkey's parliament on Friday passed a controversial law restricting the consumption and advertising of alcohol in the predominantly Muslim country.
The law prohibits alcoholic beverage companies from sponsoring events and restricts the places where such drinks can be consumed. It also bans the sale of alcoholic drinks between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Supporters of the measure -- introduced by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) party, which has its roots in Islam -- say the law is seeking to protect society, particularly children, from the harmful effects of alcohol.
But critics see it as a sign of creeping conservatism in predominantly Muslim but staunchly secular Turkey and argue the legislation intrudes into private life.
TV series, films or music videos are not allowed to contain images encouraging the consumption of alcohol under the new legislation.
It also brings stricter penalties on drunken driving.
Drivers with a blood alcohol content of more than 0.05 percent will be slapped with a 700-Turkish lira (nearly 300-euro) fine and their driving licenses will be confiscated for a six-month period.
Drunken drivers with a blood alcohol level over 0.1 percent will face up to two years' imprisonment.
The law must be approved by President Abdullah Gul to take effect. He is expected to sign it soon.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's populist government, in power for over a decade, is often accused of creeping efforts to make the country more conservative and pious.
Erdogan, a devout Muslim who does not drink or smoke, said recently that ayran, a non-alcoholic refresher made from yoghurt, was the "national drink" of the Turks.
Turkey is a fiercely secular state, despite being a majority Muslim country. Under Erdogan's rule, headscarves -- banned in public institutions -- have become more visible in public places and alcohol bans more widespread.
With reference to TV, images of alcoholic drinks will have to be blurred/pixelated.
I'm cancelling my holiday to Bodrum :mad:
So Sheilbh, do you still think this is the government of the new liberal middle class? :lol:
Meh. A Turkish restriction on alcohol is no worse than the way we used to treat alcohol or the way we treat tobacco today.
They would have to do something a little more outrageous to get me calling for the extermination of all Turks.
Quote from: Tamas on May 24, 2013, 05:35:08 AM
So Sheilbh, do you still think this is the government of the new liberal middle class? :lol:
:lol:
Before the usual suspects get on their high horse about this, they might want to consider the many restrictions already in place on the advertising of alcohol and smoking in their own country. ;)
I think this "TV series, films or music videos are not allowed to contain images encouraging the consumption of alcohol under the new legislation" is the one that may have the biggest effect. It implies a cultural distancing from the West which could have big effects over the long term.
I'm all in favour of restricting drink-driving and restricted drinking times created a much better pub culture in England than the relaxed laws we have today.
It's all for the Public Good(TM).
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/13/us-turkey-alcohol-restrictions-idUSBRE94C0P820130513
QuoteTurkey considers tighter limits on alcohol sale and consumption
(Reuters) - The Turkish government has prepared a draft law that would ban advertising alcoholic drinks in what officials say is an effort to protect children but could further divide religious and secularist Turks.
The bill, which was sent to parliament on Friday, would also ban companies that produce alcohol from sponsoring events, restrict where alcoholic drinks are sold and consumed, and require Turkish producers to place health warnings on packaging.
"Our aim is to protect society, particularly children and youth from taking up these habits at an early age, and not to limit an adult's alcohol consumption," Yahya Akman, a lawmaker in the ruling AK Party and one of the draft's signatorees, told Reuters on Monday.
The move was made only weeks after the conservative prime minister, Tayyip Erdogan, who is known for his dislike of alcohol, declared ayran, a non-alcoholic, yogurt refreshment as the national drink.
It follows a ban on drinks service on several routes flown by state-run Turkish Airlines.
Islam prohibits the consumption of alcohol. Although Turkey's population is 99 percent Muslim, it has a secular constitution. It belongs to NATO and is a candidate for European Union membership.
Many secularist-minded Turks fear tighter rules on drinking could undermine the separation of state and religion.
The bill, expected to become a law before parliament recesses in July, would bar venues that allow the sale and consumption of alcohol from openly displaying the products to people outside.
The government says it is not attempting to interfere in people's lives and is trying to bring Turkey up to European norms by controlling alcohol sales and protecting the younger generation as it negotiates to enter the EU.
"This is to make sure that alcohol consumption is not encouraged among young people. The state has a responsibility to protect the family and the public," Akman said.
Passage of the law would also be another blow to local brewers that are already grappling with taxes that are more than 100 percent on alcohol, one of the highest in the world.
Akman said public health is a higher priority than companies' revenues.
"A company's profit is insignificant when compared with the health of the general public, which is what's at stake here."
We need to find a way to make moonslims to consume alcohol.
Thie is the reason why they are so violemnt.
Oslo, they need night clubs so theu can pick up girls and stop raping innocent non-moonslim girls.
In other words, Islelam needs to go into the dustbin of history.
Brainfart.
Public health is also the excuse why they restricted tobacco selling here and concentrated it in the hands of people connected to FIDESZ and the local tobacco company supporting their faction leader.
Quote from: crazy canuck on May 24, 2013, 08:57:09 AM
Before the usual suspects get on their high horse about this, they might want to consider the many restrictions already in place on the advertising of alcohol and smoking in their own country. ;)
Yep. However, I also have to agree with Richard Hakluyt's implication that the restriction on free speech are the most worrying part of the legislation.
Quote from: dps on May 27, 2013, 04:38:31 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on May 24, 2013, 08:57:09 AM
Before the usual suspects get on their high horse about this, they might want to consider the many restrictions already in place on the advertising of alcohol and smoking in their own country. ;)
Yep. However, I also have to agree with Richard Hakluyt's implication that the restriction on free speech are the most worrying part of the legislation.
Sure, but we also have restructions. Nothing cigarrette related advertising is permitted at all. Granted, their restrictions go further than ours. But if one examines the censorship rules in North American they also make little sense.
I am not arguing that the censorship rules makes sense. It just that lets not have the pot call the kettle etc...
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on May 24, 2013, 09:04:21 AM
I think this "TV series, films or music videos are not allowed to contain images encouraging the consumption of alcohol under the new legislation" is the one that may have the biggest effect. It implies a cultural distancing from the West which could have big effects over the long term.
I'm all in favour of restricting drink-driving and restricted drinking times created a much better pub culture in England than the relaxed laws we have today.
Seriously? What fun can you have drinking before 10:00 PM?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 27, 2013, 04:52:16 PM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on May 24, 2013, 09:04:21 AM
I think this "TV series, films or music videos are not allowed to contain images encouraging the consumption of alcohol under the new legislation" is the one that may have the biggest effect. It implies a cultural distancing from the West which could have big effects over the long term.
I'm all in favour of restricting drink-driving and restricted drinking times created a much better pub culture in England than the relaxed laws we have today.
Seriously? What fun can you have drinking before 10:00 PM?
When the pubs close at Midnight? Quite a lot.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 27, 2013, 04:52:16 PM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on May 24, 2013, 09:04:21 AM
I think this "TV series, films or music videos are not allowed to contain images encouraging the consumption of alcohol under the new legislation" is the one that may have the biggest effect. It implies a cultural distancing from the West which could have big effects over the long term.
I'm all in favour of restricting drink-driving and restricted drinking times created a much better pub culture in England than the relaxed laws we have today.
Seriously? What fun can you have drinking before 10:00 PM?
:huh:
Drinking is fun at almost any time...
QuoteWe need to find a way to make moonslims to consume alcohol.
Thie is the reason why they are so violemnt.
Oslo, they need night clubs so theu can pick up girls and stop raping innocent non-moonslim girls.
In other words, Islelam needs to go into the dustbin of history.
You're getting your brown menaces mixed up a bit there.
The kind of immigrant kid who hastles white girls usually isn't the best of muslims and often drinks a fair bit.
QuoteThe law prohibits alcoholic beverage companies from sponsoring events and restricts the places where such drinks can be consumed. It also bans the sale of alcoholic drinks between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Supporters of the measure -- introduced by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) party, which has its roots in Islam -- say the law is seeking to protect society, particularly children, from the harmful effects of alcohol.
:huh:
Does not compute. Surely if its about protecting children then between 10pm and 6am is exactly when you should be doing all the alcohol selling?
Quote from: crazy canuck on May 24, 2013, 08:57:09 AM
Before the usual suspects get on their high horse about this, they might want to consider the many restrictions already in place on the advertising of alcohol and smoking in their own country. ;)
taken in itself, it's no big deal. Add that to all the conservative policies Turkey has put in effect since the religious are there, plus the arrest of nearly all opponents, and you got a country slowly siding down the extreme religious path, à la Iran.
Of course, they're not the morons many think they are. Just like modern communists like Chavez, they prefer a "baby steps" approach rather than a full blown revolution to impose their agenda.
Quote from: Tyr on May 27, 2013, 08:54:06 PM
QuoteThe law prohibits alcoholic beverage companies from sponsoring events and restricts the places where such drinks can be consumed. It also bans the sale of alcoholic drinks between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Supporters of the measure -- introduced by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) party, which has its roots in Islam -- say the law is seeking to protect society, particularly children, from the harmful effects of alcohol.
:huh:
Does not compute. Surely if its about protecting children then between 10pm and 6am is exactly when you should be doing all the alcohol selling?
Here's a crazy idea - perhaps the people who are saying "think of the children" aren't concerned with just that one piece of the law that you put in bold. ;)
Organized crime in that part of the world has to be loving this.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 27, 2013, 04:52:16 PM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on May 24, 2013, 09:04:21 AM
I think this "TV series, films or music videos are not allowed to contain images encouraging the consumption of alcohol under the new legislation" is the one that may have the biggest effect. It implies a cultural distancing from the West which could have big effects over the long term.
I'm all in favour of restricting drink-driving and restricted drinking times created a much better pub culture in England than the relaxed laws we have today.
Seriously? What fun can you have drinking before 10:00 PM?
You start early, drink fast and are tucked up in bed with some woman by midnight.............what's not to like?
(I guess I'm describing a sort of Platonic ideal of a restricted hours drinking session here :hmm: )
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on May 28, 2013, 02:06:09 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 27, 2013, 04:52:16 PM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on May 24, 2013, 09:04:21 AM
I think this "TV series, films or music videos are not allowed to contain images encouraging the consumption of alcohol under the new legislation" is the one that may have the biggest effect. It implies a cultural distancing from the West which could have big effects over the long term.
I'm all in favour of restricting drink-driving and restricted drinking times created a much better pub culture in England than the relaxed laws we have today.
Seriously? What fun can you have drinking before 10:00 PM?
You start early, drink fast and are tucked up in bed with some woman by midnight.............what's not to like?
(I guess I'm describing a sort of Platonic ideal of a restricted hours drinking session here :hmm: )
And you can get up in the morning after and go to work.
Exactly, which is why the UK introduced the restrictions back in WW1.
Another advantage was that the restricted hours kept drink prices low. The exact hours varied from place to place, in Durham they were 11am to 2.30pm and 6pm to 10.30pm. Looking at those hours you can see that with an anchor barkeep or landlord one could hire housewives for the lunchtime session and students or moonlighters for the evening session at minimum/minimal wage rates. Certainly when I was a youngster the beer prices in a pub were comparable to the prices charged at an off licence, they are now about 3 times greater :( .......so many people drink at home instead of mixing with their friends and neighbours down at their local.
Quote from: garbon on May 27, 2013, 11:39:20 PM
Quote from: Tyr on May 27, 2013, 08:54:06 PM
QuoteThe law prohibits alcoholic beverage companies from sponsoring events and restricts the places where such drinks can be consumed. It also bans the sale of alcoholic drinks between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Supporters of the measure -- introduced by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) party, which has its roots in Islam -- say the law is seeking to protect society, particularly children, from the harmful effects of alcohol.
:huh:
Does not compute. Surely if its about protecting children then between 10pm and 6am is exactly when you should be doing all the alcohol selling?
Here's a crazy idea - perhaps the people who are saying "think of the children" aren't concerned with just that one piece of the law that you put in bold. ;)
The time restriction makes no sense.
Quote from: Tyr on May 28, 2013, 02:47:23 AM
Quote from: garbon on May 27, 2013, 11:39:20 PM
Quote from: Tyr on May 27, 2013, 08:54:06 PM
QuoteThe law prohibits alcoholic beverage companies from sponsoring events and restricts the places where such drinks can be consumed. It also bans the sale of alcoholic drinks between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Supporters of the measure -- introduced by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) party, which has its roots in Islam -- say the law is seeking to protect society, particularly children, from the harmful effects of alcohol.
:huh:
Does not compute. Surely if its about protecting children then between 10pm and 6am is exactly when you should be doing all the alcohol selling?
Here's a crazy idea - perhaps the people who are saying "think of the children" aren't concerned with just that one piece of the law that you put in bold. ;)
The time restriction makes no sense.
They don't want people out all ours being drunk and causing havoc.
Those Turkish restrictions to alcohol don't seem that different from what we have over here.
I think it's just concerning with Turkey because they're moving to greater restrictions and it's an indication traditionally (ostensibly) secular Turkey is falling further into the Islamist sphere. I don't mean the Iranian style Islamism or anything, where they'll become an enemy of the West, but Turkey was an important nucleus of secular Muslim society and without it I think it makes it less likely other Muslim societies will modernize their views anytime soon.
Contrast it with alcohol restrictions in the U.S., most of which were put in place either before prohibition or after prohibition ended to perpetuate it in the religious belt and you see that they're mostly a product of the past. The trend in the U.S. has been liberalizing of traditional alcohol restrictions, sale hours have expanded everywhere, even in the Bible Belt, and dry counties have almost gone extinct. Restrictions on ABV for beers have disappeared (in many states 3.2% "near beer" used to be all you could easily buy), and restrictions on distilled spirit advertising went away some time in the early 2000s because they went from stuff you'd only see in magazines to commercial TV ads on any channel.
Quote from: The Larch on May 28, 2013, 07:00:11 AM
Those Turkish restrictions to alcohol don't seem that different from what we have over here.
Seriously? It seemed like I got pitchers of Sangria with breakfast. Granted it was summer...
Quote from: Valmy on May 28, 2013, 09:52:06 AM
Quote from: The Larch on May 28, 2013, 07:00:11 AM
Those Turkish restrictions to alcohol don't seem that different from what we have over here.
Seriously? It seemed like I got pitchers of Sangria with breakfast. Granted it was summer...
Sangría with breakfast? I know that many of our tourists are of the boozy kind but that's too much.
I don't see how that relates to the new regulations, though.
Quote from: The Larch on May 28, 2013, 05:17:28 PM
Quote from: Valmy on May 28, 2013, 09:52:06 AM
Quote from: The Larch on May 28, 2013, 07:00:11 AM
Those Turkish restrictions to alcohol don't seem that different from what we have over here.
Seriously? It seemed like I got pitchers of Sangria with breakfast. Granted it was summer...
Sangría with breakfast? I know that many of our tourists are of the boozy kind but that's too much.
I don't see how that relates to the new regulations, though.
Welcome to Austin, shithole of Texas.
Quote from: The Larch on May 28, 2013, 05:17:28 PM
Quote from: Valmy on May 28, 2013, 09:52:06 AM
Quote from: The Larch on May 28, 2013, 07:00:11 AM
Those Turkish restrictions to alcohol don't seem that different from what we have over here.
Seriously? It seemed like I got pitchers of Sangria with breakfast. Granted it was summer...
Sangría with breakfast? I know that many of our tourists are of the boozy kind but that's too much.
I don't see how that relates to the new regulations, though.
Well the hours seem a bit odd. I think here most states ban sales in the wee hours of the morning.
Wyoming bars have to be closed between 2am and 6am.
Quote from: PDH on May 29, 2013, 07:24:17 AM
Wyoming bars have to be closed between 2am and 6am.
I think liquor stores/packaged goods stores in Maryland still have to be closed on Sundays.
Quote from: PDH on May 29, 2013, 07:24:17 AM
Wyoming bars have to be closed between 2am and 6am.
Hence "wee hours" :P
Quote from: The Larch on May 28, 2013, 05:17:28 PM
Sangría with breakfast? I know that many of our tourists are of the boozy kind but that's too much.
I don't see how that relates to the new regulations, though.
Well to be fair we slept in a bit :P
My point was it sure did not seem like there were all these social laws and taboos around alcohol consumption. Wine drinking seemed just as much a cultural thing as in France, where far from charging a 100% tax on alcohol it was subsidized. But hey maybe Spain is worse than Temperance Hitler, it just seemed odd to me.
Especially since you guys seemed to love staying out all night.
Quote from: Ed Anger on May 28, 2013, 05:46:03 PM
Welcome to Austin, shithole of Texas.
Maybe but what does that have to do with my experiences in Spain?
Quote from: Valmy on May 29, 2013, 08:01:56 AM
Quote from: The Larch on May 28, 2013, 05:17:28 PM
Sangría with breakfast? I know that many of our tourists are of the boozy kind but that's too much.
I don't see how that relates to the new regulations, though.
Well to be fair we slept in a bit :P
My point was it sure did not seem like there were all these social laws and taboos around alcohol consumption. Wine drinking seemed just as much a cultural thing as in France, where far from charging a 100% tax on alcohol it was subsidized. But hey maybe Spain is worse than Temperance Hitler, it just seemed odd to me.
Especially since you guys seemed to love staying out all night.
When were you over here? Things have changed a lot in the last 5 years or so. Plenty of places forbid the sale of alcohol after 22h. On shops and supermarkets, mind you, you can always go to a bar, pub or disco and get as hammered as you want.
Quote from: Valmy on May 29, 2013, 08:09:07 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on May 28, 2013, 05:46:03 PM
Welcome to Austin, shithole of Texas.
Maybe but what does that have to do with my experiences in Spain?
Ed's just jealous because Austin has more culture than Columbus, except during Pride Week.
Texas is the shithole of Texas.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 29, 2013, 07:26:23 AM
Quote from: PDH on May 29, 2013, 07:24:17 AM
Wyoming bars have to be closed between 2am and 6am.
I think liquor stores/packaged goods stores in Maryland still have to be closed on Sundays.
I used to go to State Line Liquors in Elkton to buy beer on Sundays. Awesome place.
Quote from: The Larch on May 29, 2013, 08:23:31 AM
Things have changed a lot in the last 5 years or so.
Yeah it was back in 2000, we were still using Pesetas. Unfortunate that the laws have moved in that direction in the past 5 years.
Quote from: Valmy on May 29, 2013, 09:35:10 AM
Quote from: The Larch on May 29, 2013, 08:23:31 AM
Things have changed a lot in the last 5 years or so.
Yeah it was back in 2000, we were still using Pesetas. Unfortunate that the laws have moved in that direction in the past 5 years.
Why unfortunate?
There seems to be room for a reasonable and moderate laws implementing some restrictions on the sale and consumption of alcohol...
Quote from: derspiess on May 29, 2013, 08:39:24 AM
I used to go to State Line Liquors in Elkton to buy beer on Sundays. Awesome place.
Well, you'd know better than I would, since I don't frequent such establishments of moral weakness and foul repute.
edit--looked it up, and it's Baltimore City that doesn't sell booze on Sundays without a special permit for Thanksgiving through Christmas.
Quote from: Barrister on May 29, 2013, 09:40:35 AM
Quote from: Valmy on May 29, 2013, 09:35:10 AM
Quote from: The Larch on May 29, 2013, 08:23:31 AM
Things have changed a lot in the last 5 years or so.
Yeah it was back in 2000, we were still using Pesetas. Unfortunate that the laws have moved in that direction in the past 5 years.
Why unfortunate?
There seems to be room for a reasonable and moderate laws implementing some restrictions on the sale and consumption of alcohol...
What's the argument for banning retail sales at times when you can still purchase drinks at restaurants/pubs/bars/etc?
Quote from: garbon on May 29, 2013, 09:58:55 AM
What's the argument for banning retail sales at times when you can still purchase drinks at restaurants/pubs/bars/etc?
Restaurant lobby has more muscle in local government.
Quote from: garbon on May 29, 2013, 09:58:55 AM
Quote from: Barrister on May 29, 2013, 09:40:35 AM
Quote from: Valmy on May 29, 2013, 09:35:10 AM
Quote from: The Larch on May 29, 2013, 08:23:31 AM
Things have changed a lot in the last 5 years or so.
Yeah it was back in 2000, we were still using Pesetas. Unfortunate that the laws have moved in that direction in the past 5 years.
Why unfortunate?
There seems to be room for a reasonable and moderate laws implementing some restrictions on the sale and consumption of alcohol...
What's the argument for banning retail sales at times when you can still purchase drinks at restaurants/pubs/bars/etc?
Over here it's mostly about preventing people (particulary young people) from drinking in the streets.
Quote from: The Larch on May 29, 2013, 10:46:10 AM
Over here it's mostly about preventing people (particulary young people) from drinking in the streets.
That failed mightily then. When I was in Barcelona in '07 - I recall that we bought some cava earlier than sat along docks (and then on steps of contemporary art museum). Dock area was mostly deserted but when we went near the art museum, all the kids were out there drinking/skate boarding - actually I recall some older tourists too. :D
But then again that does fall outside the 5 year period you highlighted. -_-
Quote from: garbon on May 29, 2013, 10:53:51 AM
Quote from: The Larch on May 29, 2013, 10:46:10 AM
Over here it's mostly about preventing people (particulary young people) from drinking in the streets.
That failed mightily then. When I was in Barcelona in '07 - I recall that we bought some cava earlier than sat along docks (and then on steps of contemporary art museum). Dock area was mostly deserted but when we went near the art museum, all the kids were out there drinking/skate boarding - actually I recall some older tourists too. :D
But then again that does fall outside the 5 year period you highlighted. -_-
These kind of regulations tend to be local, it changes from place to place, so maybe in BCN it's different. And I never said it fully worked. :P In bigger cities it's not difficult to find places that ignore alcohol sales bans (tipically the stores run by Chinese or Pakistani inmigrants).
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 29, 2013, 10:06:26 AM
Quote from: garbon on May 29, 2013, 09:58:55 AM
What's the argument for banning retail sales at times when you can still purchase drinks at restaurants/pubs/bars/etc?
Restaurant lobby has more muscle in local government.
Anecdote - the Yukon has government owned and run liquor stores. They're the only place you can buy retail liquor. and to be very fair, they had an excellent selection and very reasonable prices. They also closed at 6pm.
HOWEVER... you could always buy "off sale" booze from restaurants and bars. Prices were 30% higher than the government store, and selection extremely limited.
Why you ask would there be such an arrangement? Because local bar owners made up one of the biggest constituencies of the ruling Yukon Party. -_-
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 29, 2013, 08:27:16 AM
Quote from: Valmy on May 29, 2013, 08:09:07 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on May 28, 2013, 05:46:03 PM
Welcome to Austin, shithole of Texas.
Maybe but what does that have to do with my experiences in Spain?
Ed's just jealous because Austin has more culture than Columbus, except during Pride Week.
I'll drop a note to Schmidt's Sausage Haus management not to serve you.
Quote from: Barrister on May 29, 2013, 10:58:53 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on May 29, 2013, 10:06:26 AM
Quote from: garbon on May 29, 2013, 09:58:55 AM
What's the argument for banning retail sales at times when you can still purchase drinks at restaurants/pubs/bars/etc?
Restaurant lobby has more muscle in local government.
Anecdote - the Yukon has government owned and run liquor stores. They're the only place you can buy retail liquor. and to be very fair, they had an excellent selection and very reasonable prices. They also closed at 6pm.
HOWEVER... you could always buy "off sale" booze from restaurants and bars. Prices were 30% higher than the government store, and selection extremely limited.
Why you ask would there be such an arrangement? Because local bar owners made up one of the biggest constituencies of the ruling Yukon Party. -_-
Ontario has something similar. One of my colleagues took a picture for her husband of a beer vending machine in one of the pubs. :lol:
The German federal state I live in bans alcohol sales in supermarkets etc. after 10pm. It's allowed 24/7 in bars though. :lol:
Turkish Airlines has also banned alcohol on their flights to other Muslim countries.
Quote from: Ed Anger on May 29, 2013, 11:34:23 AM
I'll drop a note to Schmidt's Sausage Haus management not to serve you.
They'll never notice me in the crowd when the house band, "Albrecht Und Der Akkordeons" is playing Ommpah Night.
Vienna doesn't have limitations n the sale of alcohol, time-wise. I know the Mayor of the First District (Inner City) wanted to ban public drinking (except if you're sitting outside in a café or restaurant), because she detests backpacking tourists sitting around like hobos, drinking wine/beer from the bottle. It didn't go anywhere, though. During the warm months, it's pretty popular for kids to hang out in some locations (Danube Canal, where there's also many bars, Museumsquartier etc.) and have wine or beer.
Also, there's online shops that specialize in late night deliveries in case your party runs dry. The student dorm I lived at during my first 18 months in Vienna had one floor specialized in 24/7 beer service. They would have at least one person ready in the kitchen at any time of night or day to sell cold bottled beer to thirsty students. Another dorm had a beer vending machine in its hallway.
Graz, however, has banned public drinking in the inner city (surprised that went through, considering that a substantial amount of people in Graz are university students).
That's why I always maintain a large stock of alcohol.
I ain't runing out in the middle of a blast.
Finding a store/shop open after midnight is the real problem in Frankfurt. Booze or no booze :) Bars and clubs are open of course.
There might be some 24/7 store at the airport though.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/31/turkey-alcohol-laws-istanbul-nightlife
QuoteTurkey alcohol laws could pull the plug on Istanbul nightlife
Retailers in the city's Beyoglu district are worried about the likely impact on business and loss of traditions
In the Siirci bar in a backstreet of Istanbul's bustling Beyoglu district, a few patrons are enjoying a cold beer. Flyers for LBGT rights and environmentalist demonstrations are scattered on a small table with feminist magazines stacked alongside.
"Places like ours do not fit in the AKP's vision of Istanbul," says the bar's manager, Haydar Tas, of the party that has governed Turkey for the last decade. "And restrictions on alcohol consumption will make things harder for us."
In a surprise move last week, the Turkish parliament rushed through strict legislation that, once approved by the president, Abdullah Gul, will curb alcohol sales and drinking in Turkey.
The planned regulations would prohibit retail sales between 10pm and 6am, ban all alcohol advertising and promotion, and stop new shops and bars from opening within 100m of schools and mosques.
As is already the case with smoking, the depiction of alcohol consumption in films and on television would be blurred.
Retailers are worried about the likely impact on business.
"I make most sales after 10pm, and I sell mostly beer and wine," says shopowner Rafi Siropyan, 35. "Our family has been running this shop for 40 years, but I am afraid that I might have to look into alternatives."
Turkey is no stranger to teetotal campaigns or clampdowns on booze. In the Ottoman era, some sultans imposed similar restrictions. But alcohol consumption has always been part of food culture in Turkey, a country whose population is 99% Muslim.
Members of the opposition Republican People's party (CHP) compared AKP MPs who drafted the bill to the Ottoman sultan Murat VI, who was known for his puritanical stance on worldly pleasures such as drinking and smoking. He is said to have patrolled Istanbul's streets incognito in order to root out offenders.
"If Turkey really is a secular state, then the government should not have the right to tell me when and where to drink alcohol," says Seref Acehan, 69, a master butcher and Beyoglu resident. "As long as I don't harm others, drinking is a matter of my own personal freedom."
Not everyone agrees. A government supporter, Veli Koseoglu, 56, thinks that the bill does not go far enough: "If people are unable to buy alcohol after 10pm, they will simply stock up beforehand. What kind of restriction is this supposed to be?"
He lives in Ortakoy, a neighbourhood known for its lively bar scene.
"On weekends, people get drunk in the streets, they swear and start fights. It makes me uncomfortable. In my opinion, drinking should be banned in all public places such as buses or parks."
The government argues that the crackdown is only aimed at improving public health and protecting children. It insists that it does not amount to a ban.
"The bill doesn't ban alcohol consumption, it simply regulates it", AKP MP Nursuna Memecan told the Guardian. "People in Turkey have been scared into seeing religious fundamentalism around every street corner. It is important to protect young people from harmful substances."
Critics point out that such concerns are hardly justified. At only 1.5 litres a year Turkey has the lowest per capita alcohol consumption rate in Europe, and 83% of the population does not touch alcohol at all.
Some fear that the proposed law is a further step towards the Islamisation of the country. Speaking at an AKP meeting this week Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, underlined that religion commanded "what was right".
"They use public health concerns as a thinly veiled excuse to impose their own lifestyle on everyone in Turkey," said one 45-year-old cornershop owner, who asked not to be named for fear of repercussions. "If things continue like this, they will soon pass laws that regulate how people should dress."
Others are worried about mounting authoritarianism in Turkey.
"Our government interferes in everything. They tell us how many children to have, how much salt we should put in our food, what kind of bread to eat and what to drink," Acehan said.
"Many European countries might have similar alcohol restrictions, but they have full democratic rights. They discuss laws before they are passed. I wish we would have this kind of mutual understanding in Turkey."
Tas is convinced that the drink curbs are aimed at appeasing conservative Muslim voters. "With so many more important problems to solve, there really is no need for alcohol restrictions in Turkey. If they are so concerned about freedom of religion, why don't they solve the headscarf issue instead of curtailing other people's choices?"
Sitting in his small bar in Beyoglu, he does not have much hope that things will change for the better.
"The AKP government wants to control what Beyoglu looks like, and who can be here. In the future, there will be no room for alternative places like ours. All leftist opposition groups, associations and cultural spaces will be rooted out, and the only place to get a drink will be expensive luxury hotels and restaurants. It will be the end of Beyoglu as we know it."
The army needs to step in & block this :D
Just to be clear this doesn't cover bars and restaurants, correct?
Quote from: Queequeg on May 31, 2013, 10:23:57 AM
Just to be clear this doesn't cover bars and restaurants, correct?
The article mentions that the ban would be on retail sales.
Quote from: The Larch on May 31, 2013, 10:33:36 AM
Quote from: Queequeg on May 31, 2013, 10:23:57 AM
Just to be clear this doesn't cover bars and restaurants, correct?
The article mentions that the ban would be on retail sales.
TBH I wasn't sure what was included in retail. There are a lot of little shops in Turkey that can function a bit like restaurants.
Turkish women are beautiful, and they should enjoy alcohol.
Quote from: Phillip V on May 31, 2013, 02:34:47 PM
Turkish women are beautiful, and they should enjoy alcohol.
Good luck. I've known a lot of gavurs who've tried to hook up with Turkish women; the only two to do so successfully were deadringers for George Clooney.
Ugh.
Quote from: Phillip V on May 31, 2013, 02:34:47 PM
Turkish women are beautiful, and they should enjoy alcohol.
Nah, they are barely average.