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Decent beer is always
available in Turkey, even
though the national tipple is raki.
Turkey produces several good lagers.
The best—and best-selling Turkish
beer (80% of the market) is Efes
Pilsen, brewed
in Izmir.
The same company, Efes Beverage Group,
brews Becks, Miller, Warstiener and
Fosters under licence.
Tuborg is also brewed in
Turkey under license. Heineken is imported.
You won't die of thirst on a hot day
in Turkey!
When I first arrived in Turkey in
1967, the only beer available was Tekel
Birasi, brewed and distributed
by the now-defunct government monopoly
wine-beer-and-spirits company. It was
sometimes alright, more often disappointing,
but it's all there was at the time.
You may still
find Tekel Birasi in some places. Tekel
is gone, but another brewer keeps the
disappointment alive.
Laws and ordinances governing the
sale
and consumption of beer are not as
strict in Turkey as in the UK, USA
or Canada. Beer can be bought in many
shops, restaurants and cafes. Drinking
beer in public places is unusual but
not unknown.
Some restaurants feature one
brand of beer over others (according
to the beer company's restrictive distribution
agreements), so you may not have a
choice of beers in every establishment.
'Tall-boys' in
an Istanbul store.
Some beers are also available in the
traditional brown bottles, and on
tap.
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