Alcohol & Tobacco in Ottoman Times

Source from:  November 12th, 2007 in History by yursil 11/14/2007

One of the common charges against the Ottomans by modern day detractors (generally Muslims) is to understand the empire in a debauched state, specifically the Sultans and other Muslim officials. There are certainly European texts which, in order to rationalize their own use of alcohol and to limit the presentation of a superior way of life in which it is forbidden, attempt to paint the picture of a hypocritical drunk barbarian nation. However, it is difficult to reconcile that (fictional) understanding with other much more somber texts by those same Europeans, such as "Sketches of Turkey in 1831 and 1832″, By James Ellsworth De Kay (Published 1833, J. & J. Harper). One of the most striking of these is abstinence from wine and all strong liquors. They carry their notions on this subject so far as to hold it unlawful not merely to taste wine, but to make it, to buy or to sell it, or even to maintain themselves with the moneys arising from the sale of that liquor. There are, of course, among them some freethinkers and free livers who indulge in rum, but, as far as our observation has extended, the number is quite limited. The most scrupulous, indeed, refrain not only from the use of wine, but also from coffee and tobacco. It is perhaps in reference to this that the sultan, as the head of the church, is said never to use tobacco. If Mohammed, as is commonly believed, copied his restrictions from the Jews, he seems to have made an improvement upon the Levitical law, which merely forbids the use of wine and strong drinks to the priests when they are about to enter the tabernacle of the congregation. So general and so strong is the dislike to the use of spirituous liquors among the Turks, that we know of several Europeans in their service who carefully abstain from drinking when they are about to transact business with the officers of government, lest their breath should reveal the fact. If our praiseworthy associations for promoting temperance should be in want of a patron saint, we know of none who comes furnished with stronger recommendations than Mohammed. Enditem