New practice from the Ministry of Health: From now on, not only the business but also the smoker will pay a fine

Another significant threshold has been crossed within the scope of the "Smoke-Free Turkey Campaign" led by the Ministry of Health. With the new regulation accepted in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), the door has been opened to individual penalties to reduce smoking. Director General of Public Health Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammed Emin Demirkol shared the current status of the campaign with the public.

Stating that the fight against tobacco continues unabated across Turkey, Demirkol emphasized that in the new period, fines will be issued not only to businesses but also to individuals who smoke. "This is a very critical threshold in our journey toward a Smoke-Free Turkey," said Demirkol, noting that cross-inspections have been increased as of 2025 and routine checks have been tightened in 81 provinces, primarily in the three major cities.

"Approximately 4 thousand fines have been issued in 2025 alone through cross-inspections. However, the most important step now will be the direct punishment of individual violations," said Demirkol, clearly stating that smoking in indoor areas will be met with sanctions for both the business and the individual.

THOSE WHO WANT TO QUIT SMOKING ARE WAITING FOR SUPPORT

According to the information provided by Demirkol, one-on-one contact with citizens is increasing within the scope of the campaign. During the "Learn your ideal weight and live healthy" event held on the streets, the height and weight of millions of people were measured; information on quitting smoking was provided at stands opened right next to them.

Following this information, applications to smoking cessation clinics increased by 85 percent. "Our citizens actually want to quit; they just need support to reach out to them," said Demirkol, adding that 150 new centers have been added in the last three months to the 700 smoking cessation clinics actively serving across Turkey. The goal is to increase this number to one thousand by the end of the year.

"100 THOUSAND LIVES LOST EVERY YEAR: THIS IS A SILENT PANDEMIC"

Reminding that smoking causes the death of approximately 100 thousand people in Turkey every year, Demirkol said that this number points to a severity that was not even reached during the pandemic period. Emphasizing the seriousness of the situation with the words, "Smoking is actually a major pandemic where 100 thousand people die every year," Demirkol stated that even passive smoking causes 1 million deaths annually worldwide.

Reminding that the sale of products such as electronic cigarettes and puffs is also prohibited, Demirkol said that inspections regarding these products are being carried out strictly in coordination with law enforcement forces. He added that in cases of non-compliance, the products will be confiscated and legal proceedings will be initiated.

News Source: İHA