Two women were briefly detained on the grounds of drinking beer in a beach run by the municipality in Turkey's Zonguldak, a northern province of Turkey.
The beach security warned them claiming that drinking alcohol on the beach is prohibited. An argument started between the beach security and the two women who were reminded that the beach is public property and prohibiting alcohol on the beach is against the law as long as they are not disturbing anyone. The two women were taken to a police station after security informed the police. Police fined the two women for disturbing the peace and released them.
"I WAITED IN THE POLICE STATION WITH WET CLOTHES"
S.C. later said, "I opened my beer and took a sip. The beach security came and told us drinking is prohibited on the beach. We responded saying that there can’t be such prohibition on a public beach. He told us he would chuck us out if were men. We wanted him not to avoid whatever he is supposed to do just because we were women. He called his manager. We tried to explain that this ban is not legal, but they called the police. I went swimming at that time. My name was announced, and I was taken out of the sea. They took us to the hospital first, then the police station. They found out that my friend had zero alcohol and I had 0.5 promile during the alcohol check. They fined us. I had to wait at the station with wet clothes until the night."
Turkey's ruling AKP party prohibited alcoholic drinks in public parks and beaches in 2013 with Islamic motivations as part of a broader agenda. The regulation was brought at the same time when taxes were increased on alcoholic drinks so much that two-thirds of the price of a 70 cl bottle of rakı go to special consumption and value-added taxes. Drinking alcohol became very expensive in bars and restaurants. Therefore, people started to bring their drinks to public parks and beaches. Prohibition itself with the record high taxes is an intervention to the lifestyle of the secular population in Turkey.
MUNICIPALITY: "DRINKING ALCOHOL ON PUBLIC BEACHES IS PROHIBITED"
Nejat Uludüz, deputy director of Zonguldak Municipality’s Social and Cultural Affairs Directorate, said drinking alcohol on public beaches is prohibited by regulations and that it is announced on signs at the entrance to every beach in the city. He added, "there are restaurants serving alcohol on the beach, and there is no problem with drinking in those. Some citizens on the beach complained about the two women. Beach security reminded them they could drink in the restaurants, but women did not take into account."
"THE POLICE DID ITS JOB"
The Governor of Zonguldak, Ahmet Çınar, said "the police did its job" about the women fined for drinking on the beach. He said, "the case is not about controlling because they were drinking alcohol". The police intervened based on a denouncement because of the women’s behaviour. This is a minor case that could happen anywhere. Yes, the image of two women as if they are surrounded by police is a little disturbing but we should interpret this image as the artistic talent of the photographer. Otherwise, the police did its routine job in a very polite way. The important thing here is the public peace."
MAYOR FROM 'SECULAR' CHP: IF WE ALLOW ALCOHOL UNDESIRABLE EVENTS WILL BECOME UNAVOIDABLE
The Mayor of Zonguldak, Muharrem Akdemir from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), supported the police about fining the two women. Akdemir who emphasised Kapuz Beach had been a place for families for long years, said "we have some rules written in the beach entrance for the peace of public. People who would like to have alcohol can go to the restaurants. Alcohol may not create the same impact on everyone. Allowing its use on the beach might lead to undesirable events. I’m underlining that we don't have a repressive mindset, but we have some rules for the peace and security of the public. I also think exaggeration of this event is a perception operation against our municipality".
With this explanation, the main opposition party mayor is essentially supporting AKP’s intervention to the lifestyle and represents the same "repressive mindset."
