Initiative to ban smoking launches in Turkish Black Sea town, Artvin
In a significant move towards improving public health, the Minister of Health, Kemal Memisoglu, has announced that Artvin will be the pilot project for a "smoke-free city" in Turkey. This decision comes in response to the growing concerns about the health risks associated with electronic cigarettes, puff products, and traditional tobacco use, particularly among the youth.
The tobacco industry is known to specifically target young people, using flavoured electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and social media campaigns to lure them into a habit that can be hard to break. This alarming trend has led experts to call for an active role from educational institutions, civil society, media, families, and health authorities in the fight against smoking.
Turkey, like many countries, is grappling with tobacco use as a serious public health problem. Globally, one in five young people aged 13-15 uses a tobacco product, and the high smoking rates among Turks are driven by entrenched cultural acceptance, economic reliance on tobacco taxes, relatively high male smoking prevalence, early initiation among youths, and the challenge of implementing effective cessation and tobacco control policies.
Specifically, smoking prevalence is notably higher among men (41.3%) compared to women (15.5%), reflecting traditional social patterns that may encourage male smoking while somewhat limiting female smoking. Tobacco consumption generates substantial government revenue through heavy taxation, with tobacco products accounting for nearly 22% of special consumption tax revenues. This might indirectly support tobacco availability and consumption despite public health costs.
Smoking causes a large share of mortality (around 27% of deaths attributed to smoking-related diseases) with over 100,000 deaths annually. The government has enacted national smoking control laws since 2009 and is piloting extensive smoking bans and cessation support programs to reduce tobacco use. However, the smoking issue is no longer an individual choice but a crisis affecting the entire society.
In response to this crisis, the Artvin project will see free medication support provided to citizens who want to quit smoking, as well as a strengthened ALO 171 hotline for those seeking help. The use of electronic cigarettes among high school and university youth in Turkey is increasing alarmingly every year, making it crucial to address this issue urgently.
The smoking age in Turkey has dropped to 13, increasing the risk of early-onset diseases. To combat this, smoking will be banned in public institutions in Artvin, and Professor Mustafa Aydin, president of the Turkish Anti-Smoking Association, described the project as "a historic step for public health."
Experts believe that the project starting in Artvin will soon be implemented across Turkey. With the fight against smoking requiring a collective effort, this initiative represents a promising step towards a healthier future for the nation.
In an attempt to combat the rising prevalence of smoking among young people, particularly in Turkey, Professor Mustafa Aydin, president of the Turkish Anti-Smoking Association, has hailed the Artvin project as a historic step for public health. This initiative, which seeks to make Artvin a "smoke-free city," will see free medication support provided to citizens who want to quit smoking and a strengthened ALO 171 hotline for those seeking help.
Recognizing the need for a collective effort in the fight against smoking, experts believe that the success of the Artvin project could lead to its implementation across Turkey, ultimately contributing to a healthier future for the nation by addressing the growing concerns about the health risks associated with tobacco use and electronic cigarettes.
