What the law says
Alcohol sales are governed by Turkish law no. 4250, amended in 2013 (law no. 6487). Three rules concern visitors:
- No retail sale from 10 pm to 6 am: alcohol cannot be sold at retail during this period. Grocers, supermarkets and specialist shops (tekel) may stay open, but no longer sell it.
- Minimum age 18: alcohol can be neither sold nor served to anyone under 18, for drinking on the premises or to take away.
- No take-away sales from drinking venues: places licensed to serve alcohol may serve it on the premises, but not sell it to be drunk outside.
Licensed bars, restaurants and meyhane are not affected by the night ban for on-the-spot service.
Where to buy alcohol
Specialist shops (tekel) and some supermarkets and grocers sell it, within the hours above; some shops do not stock it, particularly in conservative districts. Alcohol is heavily taxed in Turkey: an evening in a bar or a bottle of wine in a restaurant quickly gets expensive.
Drinking in the street, near mosques
The law provides that alcohol is drunk in places with a serving licence. For a visitor, the simplest is to drink on a terrace, at a bar or in a restaurant, and to stay discreet elsewhere. In conservative districts such as Fatih or Eyüp, do not drink in front of a mosque.
Around places of worship, the law also requires a minimum distance of 100 metres, door to door, between points of sale of alcohol (retail or for drinking on the spot) and mosques, schools and student residences. This rule is aimed at traders, not visitors; it explains why alcohol outlets are rare right next to mosques.
Quality and safety
Buy alcohol from known shops and venues: the British Foreign Office reports fatal methanol poisonings from counterfeit alcohol, notably in Istanbul. Watch your drink in nightclubs and unfamiliar bars; the precautions are detailed in our guide to scams and safety in Istanbul.
At a glance
| Situation | Rule |
|---|---|
| Buying alcohol in a shop | From 6 am to 10 pm only |
| Being served in a licensed bar or restaurant | Possible at night, minimum age 18 |
| Buying alcohol at 10:30 pm | Not possible in a shop |
| Drinking in the street | Drinking is provided for in licensed venues; best avoided, especially near mosques |
| Point of sale within 100 m of a mosque or school | Prohibited (rule for traders) |
Rules found in October 2026.
Further reading
The other rules to know are gathered in our guide to rules and etiquette in Istanbul. Drink prices are detailed in the Istanbul travel budget, and the Kadıköy district has a less touristy bar scene.
