The Tobacco and Alcohol Market Regulatory Agency (TAPDK) recently released data related to alcohol consumption in Turkey, which revealed that Turkish drinkers consumed nearly 20 percent more alcohol in 2008 when compared to the previous year. The data served to question different theses suggested by various circles about creeping religious conservatism in the country. According to the data, Turkish drinkers consumed more than 1.1 billion liters of alcohol during 2008, a 19.6 percent increase over the amount consumed in 2007. More than 1 billion liters was produced in Turkey, while around 5 million liters were imported from different countries. The considerable increase in the consumption of alcoholic beverages has spurred many to question views that religious conservatism has been on the rise in Turkey since the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) was swept to power in 2002.
“I don’t think conservatism is growing in Turkey. TAPDK data support my idea. Many circles have been claiming that the AK Party administration puts pressure on people who want to consume alcohol. However, as a citizen living in Ãstanbul, I have never witnessed or observed such an incident. I don’t think conservative people restrict drinkers. TAPDK data refute claims that Turkey is becoming a more conservative country and that conservatives restrict drinkers’ freedom to have alcohol,” stated Nazlý Ilýcak, a Sabah daily columnist.
After Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan’s AK Party was swept to power in 2002 with nearly 47 percent of the national vote, many expressed the worry that it could be a troubling sign of the erosion of the secular state’s authority and the creeping Islamization of Turkish society. There have been heated verbal clashes between the secular and religious elements in the country since then. The discussions reached their peak when the AK Party attempted in 2007 to lift the long-standing ban on the use of the Islamic headscarf at universities. The ruling party passed a constitutional amendment last February to allow students to wear headscarves at universities; however, upon an appeal by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and its ally the Democratic Left Party (DSP), the Constitutional Court ruled in early June that Parliament had violated the constitutionally enshrined principle of secularism when it passed amendments to remove the headscarf ban and annulled the amendment.
“To me, the trend of conservatism is not as strong as it is claimed to be. On the contrary, people have become less conservative in the past few years. It is correct that Turkey is mainly a conservative country, but it is becoming less conservative as the years pass,” remarked Emre Aköz, a sociologist. According to Aköz, the trend of conservatism in Turkey loses strength as the society becomes more modern and developed. “As people go along with modernization and economic and intellectual development, they become less conservative. The increase in alcohol consumption stands as proof of this. Another proof is our people’s tendency to watch soap operas in which modern life is emphasized. Turks are fond of soap operas that talk about the relationship between spouses. If we were a conservative society, then would we watch such stuff?” he asked.
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Drinking more alcohol as a proof of not being too conservative. Hmmm, I doubt if alcohol can be a solution.
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