With a new law, the Turkish government puts targeting alcohol producersincreasing the prerequisite financial guarantees for the operation of the related businesses.

“The Turkish government is seeking a higher burden on alcohol and tobacco producers,” writes the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. “If the bill comes into force, several wineries have already announced that they will lock down”.

According to the new law, “vintners will have to submit bank guarantees for amounts that are often multiples of their taxes”, with the result that especially smaller businesses are faced with significant financial problems. For the ethno-religious AKP, it is a measure against the black market and smuggling. Critics, however, believe that in reality the motive is different: the government is constantly trying new ways to limit the spread of the Western way of life and reinforce Islamic values. And in this effort, alcohol is an important thorn.”

Some producers fail to understand how the black market is combated in this way. After all, “bottles of wine are only sold with tax bands – and every month the state distributes a certain number. Each time, before the new issue is issued, it is also checked that all taxes have been paid.

[…] One producer, who prefers to remain anonymous, believes that “the aim of the new legislation is to limit production and imports”. Because the fewer the producers, the the easier it is for the government to control them.”