Turkey to Restrict Smoking in Parks and Hide Cigarettes in Stores
Turkey Plans to Further Restrict Smoking in Public Spaces
Turkey is preparing to enter a new phase in its fight against tobacco use. The Ministry of Health has drafted a new regulation aimed at making cigarettes almost "invisible" in everyday life by restricting their display in stores and expanding smoking bans in public areas frequented by children.
Core Measures of the Draft Regulation
Authorities are finalizing the document, which seeks to reduce consumption by limiting the social visibility of smoking. Key expected measures include:
- Retail Display Ban: Removing cigarettes from behind checkout counters to keep them out of customers' direct sight at points of sale.
- Expanded Outdoor Bans: Prohibiting or significantly restricting smoking in parks, gardens, and playgrounds to protect children and reduce the perception of smoking as a social norm.
“The goal is to counter the belief that these products are less harmful.”
The regulations will also update indoor smoking laws and introduce new rules targeting "next-generation tobacco products," like e-cigarettes.
Government Strategy and Existing Framework
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu has confirmed legislative work is nearing completion. The comprehensive plan also involves:
- Strengthening smoking cessation clinics.
- Deploying mobile support teams across the country.
Turkey already enforces some of the region's strictest controls, including indoor public space bans, plain packaging, and a total advertising ban.
The Ongoing Challenge
Despite these efforts, more than a quarter of Turkey’s population still smokes. Under current law, individuals violating bans face fines, while non-compliant businesses risk stricter penalties.
The new draft regulation represents a significant step in Turkey's public health policy, aiming to denormalize tobacco use for future generations.
