Turkish town bans alcohol for ‘public good’

ANKARA

Hürriyet photo

The inner Aegean province of Afyonkarahisar has banned the sale and consumption of alcohol in public places, citing the interests of the “public good,” daily Hürriyet reported this morning.
 
The ban, the first of its kind in Turkey, followed a statement by Health Minister Recep Akdağ on fighting against alcohol as well as smoking.
 
The ban forbids the sale and consumption alcohol in public places, including parks, picnic areas, gardens, bus stations, streets, gravesites, bridges, places of worship, cultural and historical sites and abandoned buildings.
 
Drinking alcohol in all kinds of vehicles, including public transportation, is also banned.
 
Explaining the reason for the decision, the Afyonkarahisar Governor’s Office said the ban was designed to "ensure peace and security within the city's borders and prevent crimes."
 
"Alcohol consumers frequently occupy a number of places in the city, causing unrest in these areas and traffic accidents," the governor’s office said. "This regulation was formed to keep the public order intact within the city and to prevent traffic accidents from occurring."
 
Those who violate the ordinance can be assessed a fine of 82 Turkish Liras.