Alcohol consumption is prohibited in Islam. However, many Muslims in Turkey do consume alcohol regularly. This seems contradictory given the religious prohibitions. Here are some quick answers about alcohol consumption among Muslims in Turkey:
– Islam forbids intoxication from drinking alcoholic beverages. However, some Muslims argue that drinking in moderation is permitted.
– Drinking alcohol has become more common in Turkey as the country has become more secularized.
– Turks who live in big cities and have higher incomes are more likely to drink alcohol.
– Tourists visiting Turkey increase demand for alcohol at hotels, restaurants and bars.
– The Turkish government regulates but allows alcohol sales despite Islamic prohibitions.
History of Alcohol in Turkey
Alcohol has a long history in Turkey despite Islamic prohibitions. Here is some background:
– Alcohol was consumed during the Ottoman Empire that ruled Turkey for over 600 years until the 1920s.
– Wine production in Turkey dates back thousands of years to ancient Greek and Roman times.
– Under Ottoman rule, non-Muslim minorities like Christians and Jews could produce and consume alcohol.
– In the 1800s, Muslims also began producing and consuming alcohol despite religious bans.
– When Turkey became a secular republic in 1923, alcohol was legalized and restrictions lifted.
– Turkey’s first beer factory opened in 1890 and wine production grew in the 20th century.
So although Islamic law prohibited alcohol, Turks have been drinking wine and spirits for centuries. Secularization only accelerated alcohol use.
Who Drinks Alcohol in Turkey?
Here are some facts about which Turks are most likely to drink:
– Young adults drink more than older generations. 67% of drinkers are under 34.
– Men drink far more than women. Over 90% of drinkers are male.
– Unmarried Turks drink more than married ones. Alcohol use declines with marriage.
– Higher income is associated with drinking. Poorer Turks tend to abstain.
– Urban residents drink more than rural. Alcohol use is highest in Istanbul.
– Secular Turks drink more than religiously conservative ones.
So young secular Turkish men with higher incomes who live in cities are most likely to consume alcohol despite Islamic prohibitions.
Rates of Drinking Among Turkish Muslims
Here are statistics on the percentages of Muslims in Turkey who currently drink alcohol:
| Drinking Frequency | Percentage |
| Regular drinkers (at least once a week) | 14% |
| Occasional drinkers (up to few times a month) | 26% |
| Rare drinkers (a few times a year) | 20% |
| Non-drinkers (never) | 40% |
So about 60% of Muslims in Turkey consume alcohol at least rarely while 40% never drink at all. Roughly 1 out of 7 Turkish Muslims drinks regularly despite religious prohibitions.
Reasons Why Turkish Muslims Drink
Here are some of the major reasons why a significant minority of Muslims in Turkey drink alcohol:
– Drinking is seen as modern and fashionable, especially among young urban Turks. It’s a symbol of a secular Western lifestyle.
– Turkey’s growing tourism industry normalizes alcohol consumption at hotels, resorts, restaurants and bars.
– Expanded marketing, advertising and availability of alcohol across Turkey promotes drinking.
– Rising incomes make alcohol more affordable. Beer and wine have become everyday drinks for middle class Turks.
– Turkish culture has strong traditions of drinking raki, wine, beer and other spirits that persist despite Islam’s ban.
– Religious conservatism has declined while secularism has risen in Turkey, reducing taboos.
– Looser restrictions and weak enforcement of Islamic alcohol laws makes drinking easier.
So socioeconomic changes in Turkey plus weaker religious objections have enabled alcohol consumption to grow significantly among some Muslim Turks.
Government Regulation of Alcohol
Despite Islamic prohibitions, the Turkish government regulates but permits alcohol production and consumption:
– A national alcohol board (TAPDK) oversees alcohol policies. There are legal age limits and other restrictions.
– Alcohol advertising is permitted but limited by regulations on content and placement.
– Spirits, beer and wine production is taxed and regulated but legal. There are hundreds of Turkish wineries.
– Alcohol is easily available in liquor stores, supermarkets, restaurants and bars across Turkey.
– Drinking in public is illegal but this law is often ignored, especially during festivals and celebrations.
– Calls for stricter regulation or bans by Islamic parties are resisted to protect tourism revenue.
So the Turkish government walks a fine line between allowing alcohol but limiting excesses and access. These pragmatic policies contradict sharia law.
Regional Differences in Turkey
Drinking patterns vary across Turkey’s diverse regions and subcultures:
– Istanbul and western Turkey have higher drinking rates than central and eastern regions.
– Coastal resort towns serve alcohol to tourists. Conservative inland areas prohibit drinking.
– Kurds in eastern Turkey drink less than Turks due to stronger Islamic identity.
– Alevis, a more liberal Islamic sect, consume alcohol freely compared to Sunni majority.
– Women drink very little alcohol in traditional rural areas compared to big cities.
So alcohol consumption generally increases in secularized, prosperous and cosmopolitan areas of Turkey. More religious and traditional regions have lower drinking rates.
Common Alcoholic Beverages
Here are some of the alcoholic beverages commonly consumed in Turkey:
| Beverage | Description |
| Beer | Various lagers, pilsners and microbrews are popular, especially with younger drinkers. |
| Wine | Turkey produces many inexpensive table wines along with some fine wines from Aegean coastal regions. |
| Raki | This strong anise-flavored spirit mixed with water is Turkey’s national drink. |
| Vodka | Vodka and vodka cocktails have grown in popularity in recent years. |
Turkish drinkers enjoy a wide variety of local spirits along with beers, wines, cocktails and other drinks from around the world.
Social Acceptance in Cities
Drinking alcohol has become more socially acceptable and visible in major Turkish cities like Istanbul and Ankara:
– It’s common to meet friends or colleagues for drinks at cafes, bars and restaurants.
– Nightclubs in Istanbul serve alcohol and are packed on weekends.
– Concert venues, summer festivals and sports events all sell beer and liquor openly.
– Many restaurants serve alcohol. Even some Islamic-themed restaurants catering to observant Muslims may serve it.
– While public drunkenness remains taboo, moderate social drinking is tolerated.
So alcohol consumption in urban areas occurs openly despite religious prohibitions. Heavy drinking is frowned upon but casual drinking in social settings is normalized and accepted.
Islamic Opposition Persists
Many devout Muslims in Turkey still oppose alcohol use on religious grounds:
– Conservative Islamic political parties pledge to restrict alcohol availability if elected, but so far have failed to do so.
– Religious Muslims demand alcohol-free hotels, hospitals, schools, workplace facilities and other public places.
– Some Islamic business owners refuse to serve alcohol to customers even where legal.
– More traditional rural areas in central and eastern Turkey follow sharia law closely and prohibit alcohol.
– Stricter forms of Islam such as Salafism forbid alcohol entirely based on passages in the Quran.
So strong cultural taboos against drinking remain among the sizeable conservative Muslim population in Turkey, especially in rural areas and some religious communities.
Alcoholism and Problem Drinking
Despite high levels of consumption among some Turks, alcohol abuse and alcoholism are rare:
– Turkey has one of the lowest rates of alcohol use disorders globally. Less than 1% of Turks have alcoholism.
– Social drinking predominates. Binge drinking and drinking alone are uncommon.
– Drunk driving rates are far lower than in Western countries. Harsh legal penalties discourage it.
– Liver disease and cirrhosis rates from alcohol abuse are a fraction of those in Europe.
– Alcohol taxes and minimum pricing limit problem drinking by keeping drink prices relatively high.
So even among Turks who drink, cultural norms promote moderation and avoid problem drinking behaviors common in other countries.
The Future of Alcohol in Turkey
Looking ahead, polarized views on alcohol in Turkey will likely persist:
– As Turkish income and urbanization increase, alcohol consumption could rise toward Western levels.
– Tourism growth may promote more drinking. However, conservative Islamic tourism could have the opposite effect.
– Attempts to legally restrict alcohol by Islamic parties are likely to continue, but face considerable public opposition.
– Enforcement of regulations on drinking in public may get stricter in religiously conservative areas.
– Changing values among younger generations and growing secularization will tend to normalize alcohol consumption.
Overall, the trend seems to point to gradually increasing alcohol use in Turkey despite religious prohibitions, but sharp divisions are likely to remain between secular and observant Muslims.
Conclusion
Alcohol use among Muslims in Turkey has grown significantly in recent decades. About 60% of Turks now consume alcohol at least occasionally despite Islamic prohibitions. Drinking has become more socially acceptable in major cities and among secular Turks. Yet Islamic opposition persists, especially in conservative rural regions. Conflicting cultural values lead to very different drinking behaviors across Turkish society. Government policies try to strike a balance between religion and secularism by allowing but regulating alcohol. Ongoing political tensions over alcohol seem unavoidable given these contradictory religious and cultural forces in Turkey.