türkçe links to original Turkish article
(T24 website, 16 May 2026)
Bureaucrats with time on their hands.
A 67-year-old retiree, Şükrü Mısırlıoğlu, is facing an investigation for
"alcohol advertising" after sharing photos of a "çilingir sofrası" (modest
meal with rakı) with friends on his personal social media account.
Mısırlıoğlu, who wrote in reference to the food, "We never dealt with
dragon fruit, buffalo yogurt, shrimp, or other expensive products," is
being investigated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for
violating the ban on alcohol advertising, with a potential administrative
fine of up to 3,291,000 (about $72,000) (!)
The investigation against Mısırlıoğlu, a retired Çaykur employee living
in Hopa district of Artvin, was opened due to his Facebook posts. He
received a notification from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's
Tobacco and Alcohol Department. Mısırlıoğlu, who shared photos of
himself drinking beer, whiskey, or raki on his Facebook account, was
surprised to see the notification stating that he had violated the alcohol
advertising ban.
The notification, citing Article 6 of Law No. 4250 on the Monopoly of
Spirits and Alcoholic Beverages, which prohibits alcohol advertising,
stated that violations of this prohibition could result in administrative
fines ranging from 82,000 Turkish Lira to 3,291,000 Turkish Lira. The
Ministry requested Mısırlıoğlu to submit his defense within 15 days,
otherwise a decision would be made based on the available information.
Şükrü Bey enjoying a "çilingir sofrası" on a visit to Istanbul.
The document, signed by Ahmet Akpınar, Head of Market Regulation
and Control Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's
Tobacco and Alcohol Directorate, stated: "In the work carried out by
our Directorate, it was observed that alcoholic beverages were promoted
through photographs and videos that could be considered advertisements
on the aforementioned social media account, and the relevant visuals are
included in the annex to this letter."
According to the investigation file, in one of the images from the social
media posts, Mısırlıoğlu is posing with a relative holding a glass of raki
and drinking beer. In another, he is holding a bottle of whiskey. In
another photo, according to Mısırlıoğlu's account, he is at a "drinking
party" with friends while commemorating a deceased friend. The retired
worker shared this photo with the following words: "They say, 'Don't
waste food, reduce portion sizes.' Well, our portions never got bigger.
We never had anything to do with dragon fruit, buffalo yogurt, shrimp,
and other expensive products. Raki, salad, cow's yogurt, that's all..."
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