A game-changing step in cigarette sales: Those who do not show ID will not be able to buy

Deputy Minister of Health Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şuayip Birinci made striking assessments regarding cigarette consumption in the country at the MedAI 26 Artificial Intelligence in Medicine Congress held in Erzurum with the theme "Looking at the Future of Medicine from Today." In his presentation, emphasizing that the harms of tobacco products are increasing, Birinci stated that the practice of selling cigarettes with ID control, which is implemented in Japan, is also on the agenda in Turkey.

“TURKEY IS SECOND IN CIGARETTE CONSUMPTION”

Birinci stated that Turkey is the second country that consumes the most cigarettes after Indonesia, saying, "We are facing a very serious increase in cigarette use. We are looking at a situation at an alarm level." Pointing out that low cigarette prices in particular trigger consumption, Birinci used the words, "The cheapest cigarettes are in Turkey. Price increases are one of the most effective ways to combat this."

THE ECONOMIC BURDEN OF CIGARETTES IS INCREASING

Noting that tobacco plays an important role in the rise of individual health expenditures, Birinci announced that the per capita health expenditure in Turkey is 840 dollars, and this figure rises to 1028 dollars for individuals who smoke. He also added that tobacco-related household expenditures reach 15 billion liras annually, and the damage caused by fires reaches a serious figure of 4 billion liras.

EARLY START AND ACCESS PROBLEM AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE

Drawing attention to the burden of cigarette use on the health system, Birinci emphasized that health expenditures caused by cigarettes reach 5 billion dollars per year. Expressing that the number of people using tobacco products continues to increase despite all warnings, Birinci stated that according to a study covering 37 European countries, the rate of access to cigarettes among young people in the 15-16 age group has risen to 55 percent, and the age of first trial has dropped below 12. He also underlined that usage rates among young girls have equalized with those of boys.

PASSIVE SMOKING AND CANCER RISK

Stating that 7 million people die worldwide every year due to direct tobacco use and 1.6 million people due to passive smoking, Birinci noted that cigarettes are at the root of 25 percent of cancer types. "It is again cigarettes that carry Turkey to the top in lung cancer," he said. He announced that 44 percent of children in the country are passively exposed to cigarette smoke.

ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE WARNING AND THE JAPAN EXAMPLE

Birinci also touched upon the issue of electronic cigarettes and used the following expressions:

“Unfortunately, electronic cigarettes increase the likelihood of starting smoking by 3 times. I am specifically mentioning this to explain the trap that companies that market it with concepts that make it seem innocent or less harmful are drawing us into. There are countries where the sale of electronic cigarettes is prohibited. It is not legal here either, but we have not made possession illegal. Cigarettes were one of the biggest problems in Japan. The Japanese now give cigarettes to people with ID. This is one of our plans as well.”

PRICE INCREASE IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE METHODS

Finally, emphasizing that price policies significantly affect cigarette consumption, Deputy Minister of Health Birinci added that the reducing effect of price hikes on cigarette use in developed countries is evident, and that similar practices should be brought to the agenda in Turkey.

News Source: 12punto