While drinking alcohol is forbidden in Islam, it is drunk relatively freely in Turkey, though mainly in more secular, western and tourist coastal regions. Local wine consumption was 834,000 hectolitres in 2021, just below Bulgaria, with less than a tenth of Turkey's population.
Turkey is a secular country with a diverse population, and alcohol consumption is a part of many social and cultural activities. The country's secular nature allows for the free consumption of alcohol, making it a welcoming destination for tourists looking to enjoy their favorite drinks.
Nearly 83% of Turks are teetotal but the overall usage including one-time-only experience percentage is 53%. Due to this fact, issues such as alcohol addiction (alcoholism), and other serious issues caused by this factor are a problem in the country.
While patterns vary, White populations (especially White British and Irish in the UK, and non-Hispanic Whites in the US) generally show higher rates of alcohol consumption and heavy drinking, followed by some Hispanic/Latino groups, while Asian and Black groups often report lower consumption, though Black men, particularly Native American/American Indian men, can have high rates of binge drinking. Data consistently points to White groups as having the highest proportion of drinkers and those consuming above recommended limits in many Western studies, with variations based on specific subgroups and cultural factors.
Liters of alcohol consumed per capita in selected European countries 2022. In 2022, Latvia consumed 11.9 liters of alcohol per capita, which was the highest among European countries. Spain had the second-highest alcohol consumption per capita, at 11.8 liters, with Turkey having the lowest at 1.6 liters.
While drinking alcohol is forbidden in Islam, it is drunk relatively freely in Turkey, though mainly in more secular, western and tourist coastal regions.
Life expectancy in Turkey is 75.6 years for males and 81.3 years for females, and the life expectancy of the total population is 78.3 years. The three most common causes of mortality in the country are cardiovascular diseases (35.4%), cancer (15.2%), respiratory diseases (13.5%).
Beer – Efes Pilsen is one of the most popular beers in Turkey, and comes in bottles, cans or on tap. Ask for a small and you'll receive around 330ml of beer, while a large will get you around half a litre of beer. Some imported beers such as Corona, Beck's, and Heineken are also available in most restaurants and bars.
The main reason pork is not common in Turkey is religion. Islam, which is followed by most people in the country, forbids the consumption of pork. The Quran clearly marks it as haram, meaning forbidden. Since over 90% of the population is Muslim, many people simply avoid pork out of faith and habit.
In reality, non-alcoholic beers are considered halal due to the fact that they are brewed with no alcohol content. Non-alcoholic beers are a great alternative to alcoholic beverages for those who follow the Islamic faith and want to enjoy a beer-like beverage without breaking any religious laws.
Public displays of affection are not commonly accepted in Turkey. It's best to avoid excessive hugging or kissing in public spaces. Examples: Holding Hands: Acceptable, but avoid more intimate gestures in public.
Crossing your legs or showing the bottoms of your feet is considered insulting in Turkey. Don't make any derogatory comments about the Turkish Flag, or Kemal Atatürk, the Turkish Republic's Founding Father or in fact anything else about Turkey. It is obviously impolite and disrespectful!
According to 2020 data, Dr. Berat Dağ noted that the most frequently committed crimes in Türkiye were intentional injury (40,445 convicts) and theft (39,279 convicts). He added: “The 2020 data reveal that nearly 8,500 young people aged 15–17 entered prison due to theft, assault, and drug-related crimes.”
Health and social experts attribute this trend to insufficient nutrition, social inequality, unhealthy food supplies and a lack of coherent policy strategies. Studies indicate that one in five children in Turkey suffers from malnutrition, at least 10% of whom are overweight or obese.
Many parts of Turkey regularly experience earthquakes and tremors. These can be high magnitude, cause damage to infrastructure, and pose a risk to life. A 6.2-magnitude earthquake which occurred in the Sea of Marmara in April 2025, was felt strongly in Istanbul. Be aware of the risk of aftershocks.
Men in Romania are, by and large, the heaviest drinkers on the planet. The average Romanian male drinks 27.3 liters, roughly seven and a half gallons, per year. It's not just the men in Romania that boast such high numbers.
More than 90% of the Turkish population is muslim, whom are not allowed to eat pork for religious reasons. Pigmeat in Turkey is sold to ethnic minorities like Greeks, ex-patriates and tourists. In addition, pork is increasingly popular in secular high society.
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