Turkey: History

Turks settled in anatolia in the late 11th century as fresh converts to islam. Alcohol consumption was forbidden, which conflicted with the Turks’ old customs of drinking, and promulgated turbulent encounters with alcohol over the next thousand years. The non-Muslim community was allowed to produce and control strong drink and its consumption by all was tolerated for economic reasons. There were prohibitions time and again, a dilemma that has continued throughout the short history of the modern republic, resulting today in burdensome regulations and a punitive tax regime. Nonetheless, a deep-rooted wine culture in Anatolia can be observed even today.