President Erdoğan's 'national drink' statement! 'I was criticized for saying ayran'

President Erdoğan spoke about addictions at the International Green Crescent Federation Forum.

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, recalling that the Green Crescent was founded during the National Struggle period, stated that insidious games played on society were thwarted thanks to the Green Crescent. Emphasizing that an unhealthy society cannot be strong, Erdoğan said, "I would like to express that I find the program extremely valuable in terms of both sharing knowledge and experience, and analyzing good practice examples thoroughly. The capacity-building programs, in which nearly 1,500 participants have taken part to date, are making very important contributions to the fight against addiction and the healthy society acquis on a global scale. I wish success in their work to each of the member country Green Crescents of the International Green Crescent Federation, which operates in 97 countries together with our Green Crescent."

'OUR NATIONAL DRINK IS AYRAN'

Speaking about tobacco and alcohol addiction, President Erdoğan said, "In our country, alcohol consumption was wrongly presented as a modernization project for decades. We were ruthlessly criticized because we said our national drink is ayran. We became the target of attacks because we care about the fight against smoking."

'SOME ISSUES HAVE NO PARTY, IDEOLOGY, ORIGIN, OR IDENTITY'

Stating that the fight against addiction is a supra-political issue, President Erdoğan spoke as follows:

It is never possible for an unhealthy society to be strong. One of the greatest enemies of a healthy body is addiction. The chaotic structure of the virtual world makes the fight against addiction difficult. Things that were once difficult to reach are now just a click away. In a period when internet and social media content target our youth, our values, and our social structure, our families must also be very careful. Some issues have no party, ideology, origin, or identity. The fight against addiction is just such an area. We need to tackle this problem all together. Some issues have no party, ideology, origin, or identity. The fight against addiction is such an area, such an issue. While they increase the price of water, which they promised to 'make free,' by 10 times on one hand, they talk about lowering the prices of alcoholic beverages on the other. We will continue to fight against all ailments that harm the health of our people and our social peace, and against every type of addiction. I leave this peculiar mentality, which sees modernity not in science, technology, development, or culture, but in clinking glasses, to the conscience of our nation.