Agree, Layla, that North America and the EU have legal limitations on alcohol and tobacco.

Preventing minors from buying alcohol and tobacco is wise, as is creation (and enforcement – which is absent in Jordan and Egypt, as example) of no-smoking public areas.

The slight difference in the proposed Turkish law – in the alcohol example – is that even adults will be prohibited from purchasing booze between arguably prime socializing hours. In a major metropolis like Istanbul and in the Antalya resorts, this will impact foreign tourists looking to drink on holiday, and translate into an economic hardship that will mainly affect non-Muslims.

It’s only when coupled with other Turkish cultural trends that these actions appear suspect.