Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed here on Friday to take tough anti-alcohol measures.

Addressing the Global Alcohol Policy Symposium held in Istanbul, Erdogan said the new measures include price increases, severer penalties for those who cause death by drunk driving, and limiting alcohol advertising.

He said the government is also working on a study to label warning signs on alcoholic beverages similar to those already put on tobacco products in Turkey.

The state must take necessary measures to protect youth from alcoholism, the prime minister added.

Meanwhile, Turkey's Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu criticized the municipalities that organize festivals which sell alcohol.

"As the world works to decrease alcohol use, unfortunately some local leaders are offering the attraction of alcohol to young people by organizing festivals," he said.