Voices newspaper is reporting problems in Altınkum stemming from a recent ban on excessive noise after midnight. The new law has kept nightclubs and bars from playing loud music after 23.59, which, according to the owners of these businesses, has caused a huge loss of tourist traffic.
To my mind, the issue here is not noise, but a complete absence of the concept of zoning. In most places in Europe and North America (perhaps elsewhere, as well), there are certain areas that are zoned for commercial, areas that are zoned for entertainment, areas that are zoned for residential, and so forth. In Turkey, this apparently doesn’t exist, as in most towns you get a random assortment of houses mixed in with businesses, and so forth. This means that you could be a young couple with a baby, moving into a lovely, quiet apartment building, and then three weeks after you move in, the hairdressers downstairs closes, and a they open a bar in its place. Then, without having done anything, you’re now living above a noisy bar, and it’s hard enough to keep the baby asleep without trance music thumping through your floor at four in the morning. So you complain to the council, and once enough complaints come in, they have to do something.
I don’t think this is the solution, though. Forcing tourists not to celebrate their holidays in holiday towns is a bit ridiculous. I think they’re going to have to start designating specific areas where clubs and bars can operate, and designate residential areas a certain distance away. But will they see that? Well, stay tuned.
Having lived in one of these tourist areas I understand what you are saying. But the other thought is, the people who are complaining, came to these places on holiday, loved it so much they bought a villa ..oh and then guess what, they couldn't sleep because of the noise from the bar on the corner. Just a thought:)