Counterfeit alcohol tragedy that killed 22 people is on the Parliament's agenda!

CHP Muğla Deputy Cumhur Uzun has submitted a parliamentary inquiry to the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) to identify solutions that will prevent alcohol smuggling and deaths caused by fake alcohol, following the loss of 22 lives in Istanbul.

"RISING PRICES AND INADEQUATE INSPECTIONS ARE THE BIGGEST REASONS"

Deputy Uzun stated, "It is clear that the increase in prices has also increased the supply and demand for illicit alcohol production, that inspections are inadequate, and that this has brought about many problems, primarily the loss of life."

It is necessary to address this problem, which is costing people their lives, in all its aspects through an investigation commission to be established in the Parliament," he said.

"CALLED FOR THE REMOVAL OF HIGH TAXES"

In the parliamentary inquiry he submitted to the TBMM, Uzun emphasized that high taxes on alcohol and high prices drive people toward producing alcoholic beverages at home and in underground workshops, as well as toward alcohol smuggling. The following statements were included in Uzun's inquiry:

"FAKE ALCOHOL HAS BECOME A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE"

'While hundreds of people have lost their lives in our country due to fake alcohol, especially in recent years, just as many have faced serious health problems.

The problem of illicit and fake alcohol has now turned into a public health issue and has become a deadly threat affecting large masses of people all over our country.

"CAUSED THE DEATH OF 22 PEOPLE IN ONE WEEK"

The latest example of this is the death of 22 people in Istanbul this week due to fake alcohol, and the fact that nearly 20 people are still under treatment for this reason.

If the necessary measures are not taken, it is predicted that this number will increase toward the New Year, spread to other cities, and that the same problem will continue every year.

"RISING TAXES AND PRICE HIKES TRIGGER ILLICIT PRODUCTION"

Stating that "In recent years, taxes have been increased on many products in our country, and alcohol and alcoholic beverages have been the products most affected by this increase," Cem Uzun drew attention to the rising tax rates and compared the tax amount of last July with today's as follows:

"With the 14.82 percent increase in the minimum flat tax amount on alcoholic beverages in July, the minimum tax on 1 liter of pure alcohol was raised to 845 liras. This amount will be updated in January and in the second half of the year based on the inflation rate."

"TURKEY'S PRICES ARE TWICE THE EU AVERAGE!"

Alcohol prices in Turkey are hovering at approximately twice the EU average. This extreme increase in prices has pushed people to search for cheap products, and the rising demand has triggered unhealthy alcohol production, known as 'underground' production, and alcohol smuggling.

"LACK OF INSPECTION LAYS THE GROUNDWORK FOR ILLICIT ALCOHOL PRODUCTION"

Although new regulations were made in recent years regarding ethyl alcohol, which is used to reduce the production of fake alcohol at home and in illegal workshops, and the sale of ethyl alcohol and methanol over the internet was banned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, production could not be prevented due to a lack of inspection.

"FAKE ALCOHOL PRODUCTION AND ALCOHOL SMUGGLING SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED"

The number of people who have lost their lives due to increasing smuggling and fake alcohol production has reached alarming levels.

While fake alcohol, which has increased as a result of rising taxes on alcoholic beverages, continues to claim lives, it has also led to the state suffering a large amount of tax loss, a situation that has also been included in the Court of Accounts reports.

It is clear that the increase in prices has also increased the supply and demand for illicit alcohol production, that inspections are inadequate, and that this has brought about many problems, primarily the loss of life.

"AN INVESTIGATION COMMISSION SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED IN PARLIAMENT"

It is necessary to address this problem, which is costing people their lives, in all its aspects through an investigation commission to be established in the Parliament.

CHP deputy Cumhur Uzun concluded his words by saying: "This inquiry aims to determine the causes of alcoholic beverage smuggling, the dimensions of fake alcohol production, and to identify ways to prevent deaths and other losses associated with it."