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Originally Posted by NousDefionsDoc
I've been to Turkey GH, albeit a long, long time ago. I would hardly use the term "progressive" to describe it. Repressive would be much more accurate in my opinion.
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I have been to Turkey too. I lived there. I speak the language. I have also lived and loved among Turkish Germans.
"Repressive" is not the opposite of "progressive." Are you claiming that all that is progressive in Turkey is solely the result of state and militarily-enforced secular Atatürkism? That the people are all secretly chomping at the bit to kill infidels, and only the army (you know, the ones who actually have the means to kill infidels) is stopping them?
At its December 2004 Analysts' Meeting, Efes Beverage Group (which controls 77% of the Turkish beer market and is a market leader in six other markets, including Russia), reported that its beer business has had a compounded annual growth rate between 1996 and 2003 of 15%. It grew from the 10th largest brewer in Europe in 2002 to 6th in 2003. In 2003, its Turkish production was 780 million liters. In the past three years, its Turkish sales grew by a 3% compounded annual growth rate. From 2002 to 2003, its Turkish beer sales grew by 41% and gross profits by 50%. Turkey beer operations recorded a 2002 to 2003 increase in EBITDA of 70% and in net profits of 213%.
Efes sold 640 million liters of beer in Turkey in 2003, up from 600 million in 2002. Turkey beer sales were up 10% in the first quarter of 2004.
According to a 2004 report by market researcher Euromonitor International, the total alcoholic drinks market in Turkey was expected to reach nearly 928 million liters in 2003, up by 9% on the previous year in volume terms (based on Efes' market share and sales, the total actually exceeded Euromonitor's predictions).
Over the past decade, beer has displaced raki, the Turkish liquor similar to ouzo, as the drink of choice among young Turks. Wine sales are also growing.
I suppose the Army is holding up pictures of Atatürk and force-drinking all those otherwise jihadist Turks to drink.
Or maybe it is the repressive advertising featuring un-progressive Muslims like model Selin Toktay.