Alcohol advertisement ban results in uproar
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Dailly News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Temmuz 07, 2009 00:00
"ISTANBUL - New regulations by the Tobacco and Alcohol Market Regulatory Authority, or TAPDK, related to advertisements of alcoholic beverages will negatively affect not only sales, but also the culture and image of Turkey, according to producers.
Commenting on the regulations, Semih Maviş, chief operating officer of Turkey Beer Operations at Anadolu Efes, said the sector expected TAPDK to "solve issues, not to contract the sector."
"We want to know the reason why TAPDK has banned advertisements that show rakı and fish, cheese, wine and chips together," he said at a press conference in Istanbul on Monday.
A second feature of the new regulation says that content of alcoholic beverage ads "should not be associated with common values such as culture, history, geography and art."
Maviş said this article could be perceived as the government intervening in the life and entertainment styles of individuals. "As we all know, regarding wine production, regional values are highly important," said Ahmet Kutman, chairman of Doluca Wines. "Bordeaux wines identify with the Bordeaux region, while Bourgogne wines are identified with the Bourgogne region," he said. "The Turkish wine sector processes 140 million kilograms of fresh grapes a year. Farmers earn their living by processing grapes. It is thought that last year Turkey realized a production of 75 to 80 million liters," Kutman said, reminding that Turkey has great potential in wine exports.
Speaking at the conference, Galip Yorgancıoğlu, chief executive of Mey Alcoholic Beverages, said TAPDK has become "an organization to ban, not to regulate."
"This decision will negatively affect Turkey’s image in Europe," Yorgancıoğlu said. "What should we use in our advertisements if we cannot use our geographical and cultural values?" Complaining of high taxes, Kutman said, "Our wine firms are faced with [high] Special Consumption Tax, which makes it hard to compete in global markets."
"We want to know the reason why TAPDK has banned advertisements that show rakı and fish, cheese, wine and chips together," he said at a press conference in Istanbul on Monday.
A second feature of the new regulation says that content of alcoholic beverage ads "should not be associated with common values such as culture, history, geography and art."
Maviş said this article could be perceived as the government intervening in the life and entertainment styles of individuals. "As we all know, regarding wine production, regional values are highly important," said Ahmet Kutman, chairman of Doluca Wines. "Bordeaux wines identify with the Bordeaux region, while Bourgogne wines are identified with the Bourgogne region," he said. "The Turkish wine sector processes 140 million kilograms of fresh grapes a year. Farmers earn their living by processing grapes. It is thought that last year Turkey realized a production of 75 to 80 million liters," Kutman said, reminding that Turkey has great potential in wine exports.
Speaking at the conference, Galip Yorgancıoğlu, chief executive of Mey Alcoholic Beverages, said TAPDK has become "an organization to ban, not to regulate."
"This decision will negatively affect Turkey’s image in Europe," Yorgancıoğlu said. "What should we use in our advertisements if we cannot use our geographical and cultural values?" Complaining of high taxes, Kutman said, "Our wine firms are faced with [high] Special Consumption Tax, which makes it hard to compete in global markets."