New restrictions on cigarettes from the Minister of Health: They will be invisible on shelves

Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu stated in a television program he attended that new legal regulations regarding tobacco products are being prepared. Minister Memişoğlu noted that they will take significant steps to reduce the visibility of cigarettes and tobacco products in society, especially at points of sale.

Pointing out that inspections targeting individuals under the age of 18 are insufficient, Memişoğlu stated that clauses regarding this issue will also be added to the new draft law. "We do not want cigarettes and tobacco to be visible. We will ensure they are not visible. The ban on cigarettes for those under 18 is not being controlled; we will include some clauses in our draft regarding this as well. We will not ban them, but we will prevent them from being visible. Are the venues glass-enclosed? Are they closed? Are they open? We will clarify these," he said.

Pointing out that approximately 8 billion packs of cigarettes were sold across Turkey in 2025, the Minister of Health emphasized internet addiction as much as cigarette use in the name of protecting public health. Minister Memişoğlu warned, "I do not want my society to get cancer. Turkey needs to stay away from this cigarette and excessive use of things like the internet. Human beings can live with addiction, but let this be an addiction to sports. Do not let bad addictions control you. Use the internet instead of letting the internet use you."

Within the framework of the new rules planned to be introduced, it is aimed to regulate the physical conditions of venues where cigarettes are sold and the way cigarettes are presented in detail. After the law is passed, both the sale and display of tobacco products are expected to be monitored more strictly.