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Anatolia, Cradle of Civilisation
Anatolian soil has a cultural richness and diversity which is thousands of years old and it is also known as the place where alcoholic beverages and drinking culture first appeared. The Anatolian Tigris-Euphrates and basins, the home of the grapevine, are shown as the region in which the first wine production was realized. The Hittite golden wine bowl found in the Alacahöyük excavations, the wine glasses found in Yozgat and Konya, and discoveries regarding the goddess of fertility indicate that drinking culture in Anatolia reaches as far back as 3000 B. C. The alcoholic beverages that came to life on Anatolian soil, met with new production techniques as they spread to other parts of the world. As distilled alcohol, once called the "elixir of life" was used in medicine, beverages made from distilled alcohol became prevalent in and alcohol began to acquire commercial value in the 13th century.
Evliya Çelebi, in his travelbook, mentions about 100 alcoholic beverage manufacturers in the Galata area of İstanbul and writes: 'I travelled the land of the rum (meaning Greek, Roman, or Christian in general) and I drank rakı flavoured with cinnamon, mint, honey and banana'. Research shows us that the beverage produced on Anatolian soil and known as Turkish rakı has a past of at least 300 years. In the Ottoman period, alcoholic beverages were subject to similar enforcements as tobacco products in terms of tax regulations and became a source of income that was frequently called upon in financial crisis and debt payments. Later, the tax collected from alcoholic beverages was assigned to foreign debts and passed on to the Duyun-i Umumiye, the General Debt Collector.
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The Republic and the Transition to the Tekel Era
Following the proclamation of the republic, the management of Tekel was first given to Türkiye İş Bankası and a company named Naçella Organizaçya and then back to İspirto ve Meşrubat-ı Külliye İnhisarı, the Spirits and General Beverages Monopoly. Following the transfer of the monopoly administration managed by the Ministry of Finance to the Customs and Monopolies Attorneyship founded in 1931, the production of alcoholic beverages was carried out by the Tekel General Directorate.
Tekel, included in the privatisation program in 2001 and restructured in 2003, was divided into five work units. In this period, the Alcoholic Beverages Industry Establishment was transformed, with all its rights and duties into the Alcoholic Beverages Industry and Trade Limited Company. Following the privatisation of this company with the takeover contract dated 27 February 2004, the era of state monopoly over alcoholic beverage production ended.
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Chronology
| 1792 |
Tax collected from rakı, wine and the likes was included among the revenues of the İrad-I Cedid (New revenue) Treasury. |
| 1859 |
The various taxes collected from alcoholic beverages were assembled under the name 'Rusumu Müştemia (Compiled Tolls)'. |
| 1905 |
The foundation of the Bomonti Beer Company. |
| 1908 |
The foundation of the Nektar Beer Company. |
| 1911 |
The foundation of the Ottoman Limited Company, the National Beer Brewery and the opening of the İzmir, Aydın Beer Brewery of the Bomonti Beer Company. |
| 1923 |
The commencement of rakı production by Hasan Hulki Bey at the İstanbul Paşabahçe Distillery as a private company . |
| 1926 |
The introduction of state monopoly implementation in alcoholic beverage production. |
| 1930 |
Tekel begins to produce liqueur and cognac. Liqueur is introduced to the market in 1931 and cognac in 1935. The Gaziantep Distillery founded as a rakı manufacturer in 1922 is bought by Tekel. Tekel begins production in the İstanbul Paşabahçe Distillery bought from Hasan Hulki Bey. |
| 1931 |
The foundation of the Tekirdağ Wine Distillery. |
| 1932 |
The transfer of Tekel administration to the Ministry of Customs. |
| 1934 |
The Ankara Beer Brewery begins production. |
| 1940 |
The Bomonti Beer Brewery and the Aydın Beer Brewery are bought by Tekel. |
| 1942 |
The Elazığ wine tasting house is opened. |
| 1944 |
The Kırıkkale Wine Distillery is opened as a wine tasting house. |
| 1962 |
The Çanakkale Wine and Cognac Distillery is founded. |
| 1963 |
Tekel begins whisky production. |
| 1972 |
The Yozgat Beer Brewery is founded. |
| 1975 |
The Bilecik Wine House is transformed into a distillery. |
| 1992 |
The Nevşehir Distillery is opened. |
| 2003 |
Tekel's Alcoholic Beverages Department is privatised. |
| 2004 |
Mey Alcoholic Beverages Industry and Trade Ltd. is founded and commences business. |
| 2006 |
Majority of Mey Alcoholic Beverages Industry and Trade Ltd. Shares are acquired by Texas Pacific Group |
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