A decision by a Turkish court announced Monday (March 17) has blocked access to websites belonging to several major alcohol brands, including Chivas Regal, Jameson, Jack Daniel’s, Ballantine’s, Martini, and Bacardi.

The ban resulted from three separate rulings by Turkish courts following decisions by Turkey’s Tobacco and Alcohol Department. The Tobacco and Alcohol Department belongs to Turkey’s Agriculture and Forestry Ministry. Effective as of now, websites for Chivas Regal, Jameson, Jack Daniel’s, Ballantine’s, Martini, and Bacardi are inaccessible in Turkey.

The advertising of alcohol is banned in Turkey, although consumption remains legal. Despite the ban on advertising, restrictions on alcohol website access had never been implemented prior to yesterday’s ruling.

Alcohol taxes have been climbing for years in Turkey under the conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP) government. The coronavirus pandemic era saw........

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