Counterfeit alcohol, lieutenants, and Syria

There has been a crisis of counterfeit alcohol in recent days. People across the country are anxious, yet they do not refrain from drinking. In Istanbul alone, 88 people were hospitalized due to counterfeit alcohol within a few days. 38 people lost their lives, and 27 are in intensive care...

Now, there are two types of counterfeit alcohol: the first is homemade, and the other is produced by unscrupulous fraudsters trying to make money from this business. However, do price policies have no blame in steering people toward these fake spirits?

The world's most expensive alcohol is sold in Turkey.

As if the Special Consumption Tax (ÖTV) levied on alcoholic beverages was not high enough, it was increased by 7.56 percent with the new year.

The tax is so high that at the beginning of 2024, the tax-free price of a 70cl bottle of Yeni Rakı, which has an alcohol content of 45%, was 247.78 Turkish Liras. The Special Consumption Tax (ÖTV) was 334.72 liras, and the VAT (KDV) was 116.50 liras... The total tax amount collected was 451.22 liras. The recommended retail price was 699 liras. In other words, citizens were paying 700 liras for a 250-lira bottle of rakı. Setting aside the intermediate price hikes, after the new year, the price of a 70cl bottle of rakı rose to 950 liras. Go ahead and drink, let's see.

Do you know why there is counterfeit alcohol? Because of the exorbitant prices... If rakı cost 250 liras, who would bother producing fake rakı? In Europe, liquor bottles do not have those security caps we have. Because it is more costly to produce a fake, nobody bothers!

Speaking of Europe, deaths caused by counterfeit alcohol in Turkey have also been reflected in the world press. Last summer, in the warning lists published for their citizens planning to travel to Turkey, European countries added information that attention should be paid to counterfeit alcohol. Recent events have graced newspaper headlines!

In a report by the German newspaper Die Welt, it was stated that deaths caused by counterfeit alcohol occurred in Turkey. Mentioning the high taxes applied to alcoholic beverages, the report included the statement, "Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who identifies as a Muslim, has spoken out repeatedly against alcohol and tobacco consumption."

In a report in the British newspaper Daily Mail, the statement "Poisonings from counterfeit alcohol are very common in Turkey, where private production has increased following rising taxes" was used, and the term "Muslim President" was used again.

In a report on the same subject by the France-based newspaper Le Monde, it was stated that poisonings caused by counterfeit alcohol are common in Turkey, where private production increases as taxes on alcoholic beverages are raised.

In a report by the US-based international news agency Associated Press (AP), the view was expressed that "Many people facing rising costs are turning to cheaper alternatives or homemade drinks, which increases the risk of poisoning from toxic substances. As a result of high inflation and taxes, alcohol prices have seen all-time highs."

The high taxes are one thing, but this has nothing to do with being Muslim. No one is telling the citizens in the country that drinking is a sin! In fact, if that were the case, it would be banned...

Now, there will be those who say, "It's a Muslim country, they shouldn't drink, brother." Some will say, "Well, we are in a country where 5 lieutenants and 3 commanders who drew swords and took an oath saying 'We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal' at the Military Academy graduation ceremony were referred to High Disciplinary Boards. In a country where irrelevant questions like 'What do you think about Deism? How do female cadets pray?' are asked during interrogation, who cares about those who drink alcohol?"

But just as in no other area of life, the situation regarding alcohol has nothing to do with being Muslim! Because the tax collected from alcohol is so high that, on the contrary, there is such a large tax revenue that it makes one say, "I wish everyone would drink." Besides, the questions directed at the lieutenants have nothing to do with being Muslim either. According to what they say, what was the reason for opening the investigation? Indiscipline! Otherwise, there was no objection to them being soldiers of Mustafa Kemal. Do those conducting the investigation not know where female soldiers pray...

There is another issue that has nothing to do with being Muslim or religious brotherhood. What was the first act of the new administration in Syria that we are so fond of? The decision to harmonize customs duties dated January 11! Taxes applied to imports from Turkey were increased by rates ranging from 300 to 500 percent. Truck queues reaching 6 kilometers have now formed at border gates. Even Nihat Özdemir, founder of Limak Holding, known for its closeness to the government, reacted to the events by saying, "This decision surprised me a lot. Because our relations with the new administration seem very good. It is not understandable."

So, when it comes to money, religious brotherhood does not remain...