A new regulation regarding the fight against tobacco is on the agenda in Turkey.
According to a report by Habertürk, the draft law being worked on by the Ministry of Health plans to ensure that the smoking ban is not limited to indoor areas, and to redefine sections where smoking may be permitted in certain outdoor spaces.
Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu announced in a statement on October 10 that the new draft law regarding tobacco use would be submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey within a few weeks. The main goal of the regulation is to reduce secondhand smoke, increase smoke-free sections in public areas, and specifically prevent children from seeing smoking as a normal part of daily life.
Within the scope of the preparations, outdoor seating areas of restaurants, cafes, and eateries are among the prominent topics. While there are strict restrictions on tobacco use in indoor areas under current practice, there can be differences in implementation in semi-open areas enclosed with awnings, glass, or similar structures. With the new proposal, it is expected that the nature of such areas will be more clearly defined and that special sections where smoking is permitted will be described by legislation.
Parks, gardens, outdoor areas of public institutions, university campuses, health facilities, sports facilities, and outdoor sections of entertainment venues are also among the areas that could fall under the scope of the regulation. The goal is not an absolute and exceptionless ban in outdoor areas, but rather the separation of points where smoking is permitted while keeping the remaining areas smoke-free.
PASSIVE SMOKING AND CHILDREN ARE AT THE FOREFRONT
One of the justifications for the regulation is passive smoking. The World Health Organization emphasizes that there is no safe level for passive exposure to tobacco smoke. For this reason, protecting non-smokers, especially children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses, from tobacco smoke in public areas is seen as a priority in terms of public health.
Tobacco use rates in Turkey also form the background of the regulation debate. According to WHO research on Turkey, the rate of tobacco product use in the population aged 15 and over is 34.8 percent. While the rate of those who state that they use tobacco every day is measured at 31.3 percent, this rate is 46.1 percent for men and 23.6 percent for women.
Global data also reveal the seriousness of the situation. According to a WHO information note dated June 2026, more than 7 million people worldwide lose their lives each year due to causes related to tobacco use. More than 1.6 million of these deaths occur among people who are exposed to secondhand smoke despite not being smokers themselves.
In terms of the feasibility of the new regulation, the inspection mechanism, the responsibilities of businesses, the sanctions to be applied in case of violation, and the technical conditions of smoking areas will be important. Especially for restaurant and cafe businesses, the clarification of the definition of outdoor areas will be decisive in terms of both inspection and daily operational order.
Following the submission of the proposal to Parliament, the scope, exceptions, and implementation calendar of the regulation will become clear. At the center of the debate will be how to establish a balance between the usage areas of smokers and the right of non-smokers to be in a smoke-free environment.
News Source: 12punto
