Turkish PM defends alcohol restrictions

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday dismissed criticism about recent restrictions on alcoholic beverages, saying there is no ban on alcohol consumption. The regulation is neither a ban nor an intervention into lifestyles, said Erdogan while addressing his deputies at the Turkish parliament. "If you want to drink alcoholic beverage, take it and do it in your house. Go and drink whatever you like," Erdogan said. The government was only trying to fulfill its responsibility of protecting the country's youth from the harmful effects of alcohol consumption, said Erdogan, adding that they also had to take measures against traffic accidents caused by drunk driving. The regulation was a "historic step" for Turkey in favor of healthy generations, Erdogan noted. The law, proposed by the ruling Justice and Development Party ( AKP) and was approved by the parliament on Friday, limits alcohol advertising and brings strict restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages and penalties for those violating the law. The sale of alcoholic beverages will be banned between 10:00 p. m. and 6:00 a.m.