Turkey Going Cold Turkey on Tobacco

(Istanbul, Turkey) A nation-wide comprehensive smoking ban will be enacted tomorrow.

Smoking will be banned in almost all enclosed areas such as public buildings including education, health, entertainment, sports, production, business, cultural and social facilities.

The ban also covers all public transportation, including taxis, trains and boats. [ ... ]

The fines for violating the regulation have been increased, and business owners who let people smoke in prohibited areas will have to pay more than the smoker. Those who throw the stump of a cigarette on the street will be fined YTL 23. Those who smoke in prohibited areas will be fined YTL 62. [Note: 100 Turkish Lira = about US $81]

However, those who allow smoking (the owner or manager of the building) will be fined from YTL 50,000 up to YTL 250,000.

Advertisements and any encouragement of smoking are prohibited. Showing cigarettes on TV will be fined between YTL 1,000 up to YTL 100,000.

The sale of tobacco products to those younger than 18 is prohibited, and those who sell it can be sentenced to between one and six years imprisonment.

I think enforcement of the law might be problematic.