Another Fine for Alcohol Posts on Social Media: This Time for a Famous Actor, 82 Thousand Lira!

Turkish actor Yiğit Dören has been issued an administrative fine of 82,244 lira for featuring alcoholic beverage brands in his social media posts. The penalty was imposed by the Directorate of Tobacco and Alcohol under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

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I am not the owner of any alcoholic beverage company, nor am I an employee. These posts were made to capture a moment with my followers and friends while consuming an alcoholic beverage I purchased legally and paid taxes for. I believe this conclusion is entirely unfair and baseless.

The ministry classified Dören's shared photographs and videos, which showed alcohol brands, as "advertisement and promotion of alcoholic beverages." Dören, however, has appealed the fine, asserting that the visuals were personal memories shared with friends and lacked any commercial intent or affiliation with alcohol companies.

Challenging the decision in the Muğla Duty Criminal Court of Peace, Dören stated, "I am not the owner of any alcoholic beverage company, nor am I an employee. These posts were made to capture a moment with my followers and friends while consuming an alcoholic beverage I purchased legally and paid taxes for. I believe this conclusion is entirely unfair and baseless."

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I have filed an objection with the Criminal Court of Peace. I hope the judiciary will rectify this mistake and cancel this fine imposed on me.

Dören also drew a parallel to the Yeni Parti (New Party), whose name and logo were reportedly similar to an alcohol brand, leading to numerous social media collages. He questioned whether similar sanctions would be applied to those individuals if his personal posts were deemed promotional.

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Would the sanction and administrative fine imposed on me also be applied to those individuals? If such a conclusion is reached, it should be applied to everyone who does it, not just a few people.

He highlighted the financial burden of the fine, noting that even with a potential 25% discount for prompt payment, the amount would exceed 60,000 lira, equivalent to two months' wages for someone earning the minimum salary. Dören expressed hope that the ministry and the judiciary would rectify what he considers an unjust penalty.

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This money is equivalent to two months' labor. Please don't. I hope both the ministry and the judiciary will reverse this mistake. Because I find it unfair and baseless.