HYPE VERSUS REALITY OVER TURKEY'S ALCOHOL "BAN"

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 007437

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2015
TAGS: PGOV SOCI TU
SUBJECT: HYPE VERSUS REALITY OVER TURKEY'S ALCOHOL "BAN"

REF: ANKARA 6878

Classified by Acting Political Counselor Charles O. Blaha,
E.O. 12958, reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Reports of alcohol "bans" by Turkey's
ruling pro-Islam Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the
headlines are largely exaggerated and misleading. The
reality is that control over liquor sales and licensing, once
held by provincial governors, has been turned over to
municipalities as part of a larger decentralization reform.
There are some bans on alcohol sale and consumption on
municipal property, but no direct correlation between such
bans and AKP control. However, AKP's secular opponents have
seized the opportunity to accuse AKP of Islamifying the
country, hoping to use the hype as one tool to force early
elections (reftel). End Summary.

Hype Versus Reality
--------------


2. (U) Recent press has focused on a supposed push of PM
Erdogan's AKP government to ban alcohol sales in Turkey.
Sabah newspaper reported on December 4 that 62 of 81
provinces have imposed bans on the sale and consumption of
alcohol in places owned by public institutions. Critics
claim this is yet another way AKP is turning Turkey into an
Islamic state. However, the statistics are misleading.


3. (U) The truth is that municipalities can ban the sale and
consumption of alcohol on municipal property, but there is no
direct correlation between AKP and alcohol bans on municipal
property. In 19 of Turkey's 81 provincial capital
municipalities there are no such bans; 14 of the 19
municipalities with no bans have AKP mayors. Of the 62
provincial capitals with alcohol bans on municipal property,
18 have non-AKP mayors.


4. (U) Nihat Ergun, AKP Deputy Chairman in charge of local
administrations, says that as part of the Public
Administration Reform law which took effect in 2005,
municipalities took control over alcohol sales and licensing
from provincial governors, thus aiding in the
decentralization process.


5. (U) Reports have emerged of officials branding streets
where alcohol is sold as "red." In the past the sale of
alcohol was prohibited in a 200-meter radius of a school or a
place of worship. Ironically -- and what is not making
headlines -- is that due to urbanization, AKP lawmakers
actually lowered the prohibited radius to only 100 meters in
two amendments in 2003 and 2005.

AKP Says Protecting Youth From Alcohol
--------------


6. (U) The AKP government cites Article 58 of the
Constitution, which deals with the protection of youth, as
justification to regulate alcohol sales. In November PM
Erdogan said that "Article 58 of the Constitution is very
clear. The state is obligated to protect youth from alcohol
addiction. The municipalities can issue licenses to anyone
who wants to obtain them for tourist facilities, hotels, and
restaurants, but does not serve alcohol at their own sites."


7. (C) In his December 15 introductory meeting with the
Ambassador (septel),Erdogan complained about the misleading
media coverage of the issue, citing the Article 58 rationale
for restricting consumption and sale in municipal facilities.
Erdogan noted that there are alcohol restrictions in
municipal facilities all over the world, including the U.S.


8. (U) Nevertheless, the secular Ankara Bar Association is
gathering evidence in preparation for a suit against the
Greater Ankara and district municipalities. Bar Association
President Vedat Ahsen Cosar says the alcohol "ban" imposed by
AKP municipalities is a violation of human rights. Ergun
welcomed the suit, predicting that the results would show
that there are no covert Islamic plans to rid the country of
alcohol.

What AKP Knows About Alcohol: Everything But The Taste
-------------- --------------


9. (U) Several AKP ministers have publicly denied
allegations of alcohol bans. Speaking earlier this year to
the Turkish Winemakers Association, DPM Sener, an observant
Moslem, said, "You might ask what I know about wine. I know
everything but the taste." Sener called for an increase in
Turkish wine production. Sener later told the press, "At one
time in the U.S., with a clause in its Constitution, alcohol
sales and usage were banned. There cannot be a ban on
alcohol, but there are some arrangements in our regulations.
These arrangements state that places that sell alcohol should
be at a certain distance from schools and places of worship.
Other than the general arrangements, I do not think that
there is any restriction or ban."


10. (U) Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu also denied that
municipal officials have designated drinking areas as "red,"
proclaiming such an act would be illegal. Yet headlines
appeared in dailies along with a map of Istanbul's Uskudar
district highlighting supposed drinking ("red") and
non-drinking streets. In another attempt to stir the pot,
several Turkish newspapers portrayed our visit to Ergun as an
expression U.S. concern over the supposed "ban." Aksu and
Ergun attribute the media hype to those who wish to bring
down AKP.


11. (U) In an interview published December 19, pious FM Gul
denied the existence of any alcohol bans, claiming that new
regulations actually made it easier for restaurants to get
liquor licenses. Gul admitted that there are limitations on
locations where alcohol can be served, "but the rest is
propaganda."


12. (C) Comment: The hype over AKP's alcohol "ban"
illustrates the tendency of AKP's secular opposition to seize
on anything that can be portrayed to smack of perceived
Islamification of Turkey. Nothing has changed with regard to
alcohol control except the regulating authority. Some mayors
have taken liberties with enforcement, but even FM Gul has
said that they will be "educated" about implementation.
Turkey's leaders realize that without alcohol, Turkey would
lose tourism dollars. Even the pro-Islam AKP government
cannot allow that to happen. End Comment.
WILSON