Turkish bans on Wikipedia and public drinking rouse anger

The Antalya police department issued on April 27 a ban on the consumption of alcohol in a "disturbing and open" manner in public and in parked cars. The public and those working in the tourism industry reacted so strongly to the ban that it was reworded, but that did not end the controversy. 

Tourism professionals see the ban in the coastal city of Turkey as negatively impacting an already floundering tourism industry, while social media users suggest the ban is aimed at imposing a conservative lifestyle. Stunned by the reaction, the police department removed the decree from its website and replaced it with an updated announcement that omitted the word “ban” and stated that public alcohol consumption was to be “regulated” by the Governorship of Antalya.

The police department asserted that alcohol consumption was not banned in public areas — only "regulated" to prevent the disturbance of the public order. Still, the public was not satisfied with this explanation. The police department and Governorship of Antalya could not provide adequate clarifications to ease the discontent. The debate continues unabated.

Osman Ayik, the board chairman of the Turkish Hoteliers Federation (TUROFED), told Al-Monitor: “We are asked about this ban both on domestic and international levels. The controversies sparked will have a negative impact on the tourism sector.” He added, “Due to the recent diplomatic crisis the with European Union and Russia, the tourism sector recorded significant losses in 2016. Turkey is perceived by the rest of the world as an oppressive and autocratic country. Relevant authorities should give positive messages both to the public and the rest of the world and change this perception. We inform those who ask that this is not a blanket ban on alcohol but is a practice to prevent people disturbing the public order.”