It’s no doubt that alcohol prices throughout Türkiye have been increasing gradually over the last couple of years. However, this trend has recently gained attention due to new criminal investigations regarding fake alcohol and some recently published research that went viral on X.
Statistics from the Tobacco and Alcohol Authority reveal that while whiskey consumption has dramatically increased over the past 20 years, raki consumption has declined. The figures indicate that the continuous rise in tax rates has been unfavorable for the national drink raki, while benefiting entirely imported whiskey.
Between 2004 and 2023, raki consumption decreased by 2.2 million liters, dropping from 44.1 million to 41.8 million, which is a 5% decline. Notably, in 2020, consumption fell to as low as 27 million liters. On the other hand, whiskey consumption has increased by 26.7 million liters over the last 20 years. It rose from 1.9 million liters in 2004 to 28.6 million liters, an increase of 1,399%. It seems that raki has lost part of its market to whiskey.
As tax rates rise and the price difference between raki and whiskey decreases, it can easily be said that citizens have started to prefer whiskey. Users on X commented that “raki used to be a poor man's drink.” A man would have raki in his cupboard even if he had no money in his pocket. In old movies, the rich drank whiskey while the poor had raki. With the previously mentioned taxes, raki and whiskey have reached almost the same price. Most believe that while they are already paying close to 1k TL, they can just buy whiskey, which is considered more prestigious and of better quality.
Raki isn’t the only drink that has been affected by price increases, as almost all types of alcohol have increased in price, though some more than others. Recent years have seen a greater backlash against this increase as alcohol use among teenagers has risen and controversial laws almost tripling the penalty for selling alcohol after 10 p.m. were put into place by the government last year.
The price increase also gave rise to some questionable events. For example, a couple of weeks ago, a 72-year-old man living in Arnavutköy, Istanbul, was hospitalized after drinking a surface cleaner worth 800 TL, which he ordered online. It was later learned that the patient had previously consumed the surface cleaner, which he referred to as a natural mixture, multiple times and stated that the 5-liter mixture had lasted him 15 days.
Even though this is a tragicomic instance displaying how new taxes on alcohol have been met by the public, the reality is not so humorous.
Data shows that people have not stopped drinking due to price increases, as alcohol consumption increased 11% from 2021 to 2022. Rather, people who frequently travel or have relatives abroad began purchasing them from other countries at nearly half the cost, while others turned to any inexpensive alcohol they could find, most of which was fake.
The Istanbul Governorship gave a statement on the issue saying, "Since November 1, 37 out of 73 people poisoned by counterfeit alcohol have died."
“In the year 2024, operations carried out by the Istanbul Police Department's Smuggling Crimes Combat Branch resulted in inspections at 1,002 businesses, the seizure of 287,758 liters of alcoholic liquid, 14,701 full bottles of alcoholic beverages, 853,460 labels and stamps used in the production of alcoholic beverages, as well as numerous by-products used in the manufacture and sale of illegal/counterfeit alcoholic beverages (caps, empty bottles, aroma, kits, funnels, hoses, etc.)”
This issue is extremely vital, considering that methanol, which is used in the production of fake alcohol, is extremely toxic and even small amounts of it can result in death. Besides death, methyl alcohol poisoning can lead to serious health problems such as headaches, dizziness, vision disturbances, and blindness. It should also be noted that students and teenagers who are less informed about the subject are often looking for establishments that will serve those who are underage, which leads them to resort to sketchy establishments where they are more likely to purchase counterfeit alcohol. Thus, the topic holds significant importance.
In addition to causing fatalities, the sale of counterfeit alcohol also leads to disputes between the customer and the supplier, as most of the time those who are buying fake alcohol are not aware of the situation.
Recently, a man insulted the owner of a liquor store in Sarıyer, claiming that he gave his girlfriend fake alcohol. Later, the store owner and a customer who was in the store at the time were caught on camera beating the man who had insulted the owner.
With the new prices, drinking habits shift and some revert to fake alcohol. As consumers search for more affordable options, they may unwittingly gravitate towards counterfeit beverages that promise the same experience without the hefty price tag. Unfortunately, these imitation products often contain harmful substances that can lead to serious health complications, underscoring the risks associated with underregulated markets. The tragic outcomes highlight the need for effective regulation and consumer education to combat the sale of fake products.
Edited by: Ömer Gökce, Yağmur Ece Nisanoğlu