New Smoking Ban and Draft Regulation Study from the Ministry of Health

The Ministry of Health is working on a new draft regulation covering parks, beaches, building entrances, and points of sale in order to reduce tobacco use, protect children from passive smoking, and prevent young people from accessing cigarettes.

Scope of the Ban is Being Expanded

The Ministry of Health is working on a new regulation to reduce tobacco use and protect children in particular from the effects of passive smoking. With this study, which is still in the draft stage, it is planned to expand the areas where the smoking ban is applied and enforce existing rules more strictly.

New Limits in Open Areas

It is planned to restrict smoking in certain areas frequently used by citizens, such as parks, gardens, children's playgrounds, and beaches. With the new regulation, bringing a new limit to smoking at the entrances of public buildings, shopping malls, and restaurants is also on the agenda.

Distance Rule at Entrances

According to the draft, smoking will not be allowed within a distance of at least 5 meters from the main entrance doors of such businesses and buildings. In this way, it is aimed to prevent the spread of dense tobacco smoke at building entrances.

Winter Gardens and Awned Areas

In addition, it is on the agenda that awned sections whose tops or surroundings can be opened and closed, as well as winter gardens of businesses, be evaluated within the scope of indoor areas and that smoking not be allowed in these areas either.

Visibility at Points of Sale

It is planned to prevent cigarettes and other tobacco products from being displayed in markets and points of sale in a way that consumers can directly see them. Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu stated that the aim is not to completely ban tobacco products, but to reduce their visibility.

Access of Youth and Inspection

Making inspections regarding the sale of tobacco products to those under the age of 18 more effective is also among the targeted main headings.