Statement from Health Minister Memişoğlu on New Regulation for Cigarette Sales

Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu announced that they are carrying out a new initiative to completely prevent children and young people under the age of 18 from accessing cigarettes and to make existing bans more effective.

Details of the New Initiative Shared in the Parliament

Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu answered questions from journalists at the Parliament and shared the details of the new regulation prepared for the sale of tobacco products.

He emphasized that they aim to make existing bans much more effective in order to prevent children and young people from accessing these harmful substances.

Tobacco Use and Health Threats

Stating that tobacco products are the biggest trigger for heart attack, stroke, and cancer cases in Turkey, Minister Memişoğlu noted that a large portion of deaths stem from these diseases.

Expressing that Turkey ranks first in the world in terms of lung cancer rates among men, Memişoğlu pointed out that smokers also want to get rid of this habit.

Yeşilay Research and Quitting Rates

He conveyed that a study conducted by Yeşilay clearly revealed that 80 percent of individuals who use cigarettes try to quit this habit.

Calling on citizens to fight against cigarettes together, Memişoğlu reminded that this substance lowers sleep quality and creates shortness of breath.

Youth Access to Cigarettes and Age Verification

He stated that although selling cigarettes to those under 18 is prohibited by current laws, surveys show that children can easily access this product.

He expressed that, similar to practices in developed countries, they will introduce a mandatory age inquiry during sales and that methods such as QR codes are being evaluated.