[ad_1]
In Turkey, there is a drink considered a kind of national treasure. No, it’s not milk, it’s raki, an anise-flavored liqueur that has been distilled here for centuries. But lately, raki has become almost a luxury. The tax on alcohol has increased, prices have skyrocketed, so more and more Turks are turning to alcohol on the black market. And this can be deadly. Among the many victims is the daughter of Shaban Altan. Unscrupulous criminals are responsible for his death. See a report from “Focus Europa”, a project by Digi24 and Deutsche Welle. The program airs on Friday at 11:30 p.m. and resumes on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Her room looks the same as when Derya left in October last year. This is where Șaban Altan comes to this place today, to remember his daughter and her death. Derya died at the age of 24 after drinking counterfeit alcohol.
“She met some friends and one of them had bought alcohol. It was fake alcohol. When she started to feel bad, the next day she went to the local hospital. From there they sent her to the nearest university clinic, where she remained in intensive care for seven days. But they couldn’t save her, “says grieving father, Șaban Altan.
Derya Altan is just one of them Nearly 100 people die in just three months in Turkey after drinking counterfeit alcohol.
Turkish police raided an illegal distillery. Operations like this have become routine here. Smugglers put bottles with false labels on the market. It could be whiskey, vodka and especially raki, the popular Turkish liqueur flavored with anise. Since alcohol is often improperly distilled, bottles may contain toxic methyl alcohol instead of the ethanol found in beverages.
The tax increased by 440 percent
Opposition politician Ali Sheikh has accused the government of pressuring people to use contraband products. He says the legal sale of alcohol in stores has been deliberately turned into an expensive business by raising taxes regularly. The raki tax alone has increased by 440% in ten years.
As taxes represent 70% of the sales price, alcohol is more expensive in Turkey than anywhere else in Europe.
“Today, when four glasses of raki are served, the state takes three and only gets one,” says Ali Seker, a CHP opposition politician. “The price of this bottle of raki has doubled in the last year. Now it costs about 18 euros, “says the politician.
With a monthly minimum wage of approximately 250 eurosSome prefer cheaper counterfeit alcohol on the black market, even if it can be deadly.
Erdogan considers alcohol to be a sin
The opposition believes that the government’s tax increases are ideologically motivated.
“Those who think that drinking alcohol is a sin, believe that people who still like to drink have to pay a high price. But citizens not only pay this price in money, they increasingly pay it with their lives, ”says Ali Seker.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has never hidden his aversion to alcohol. He repeatedly warns young people for religious reasons.
“We stay away from alcohol. Why? Because it is a shame that pious young people consume alcohol,” President Erdogan said.
Raki, an element of Turkish culinary culture
But some retirees gathered in a garden near the town of Yalova say that raki is part of Turkey’s culinary culture, just like freshly caught fish. Although they are Muslim, they still want to enjoy the anise-flavored drink. But they are rarely allowed to buy raki in the store. That’s why a friend gives them some homemade liquor, but he always tastes it to make sure it doesn’t contain toxic methyl alcohol.
“I had my doubts at first. But my worries are gone because we are testing to be sure. Now we are quite relaxed about the consumption of homemade drink. I never had any problems,” says the man.
Be it beer, wine or vodka, homemade alcohol is in high demand in Turkey. More and more people stock up in the basement or the bathtub. This worries these Yalova elders.
“The Scots have their whiskey, the French their wine. The Greeks have a use, and here in Turkey we have raki. It is globally recognized as part of our culture. If some people want to get rid of this tradition in some way … Is that okay? ? ” they ask.
“She was happy, always with a smile on her face”
Shaban Altan wonders the same thing. How does the constant rise in prices help the young man, his daughter Derya, to fall victim to ruthless smugglers? He’s overwhelmed.
“She was a happy young woman, always with a smile on her face and in love. More than 100 young people attended his funeral. Friends and acquaintances. I think if alcohol prices had been more moderate, his death could have been prevented, ”says the grieving father.
In Turkey, some people say that drinking alcohol is a sin. For others, it can all end tragically.
Editor: Luana Pavaluca
