The smoking ban must not remain only on paper

Published on February 19, 2008 4:35 AM

Turkish smokers are very agitated over smoking ban on cigarettes in bars, cafes and restaurants. Turkey is a state where smoking is a way of life for many people. Statistic shows that Turkey is a country of 75 million people, 25 million of them are smokers, and two-thirds of smokers are men as well as 11 percent of children aged 7 to 11. Many deaths in Turkey are caused by Tobacco, one in five deaths.

Turkey is both a major buyer and producer of tobacco and cigarettes.

All Smokers are against smoking ban and they accuse the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, because he approved the low against smoking cigarettes in bars, cafes and restaurants. The smoking ban which must also be signed by President Abdullah Gul, will take full effect in September, giving bars and restaurants time to prepare for the change. But imposing the smoking ban will not be easy.

"This ban is disgusting. It is against individual freedom. Those in power should not only think about themselves," said Mustafa Puskullu, 29, a sales advisor, enjoying a cigarette during lunch at an Ankara shopping mall.

"I will certainly not comply with any ban," he added.

Smoking will be ban on buses and planes too.

"We are a society that can promulgate laws ranging from tax regulations to traffic rules, from smoking restrictions to bans on torture, but we can't implement them," said columnist Murat Yetkin.

"The smoking ban must not remain only on paper," he said.

Those who will flout the smoking ban will face a fine of 57 lira ($49). Owners of bars, cafes and restaurants where customers light up could be fined up to 5,000 lira.

Nuri Bayraktar, a 24-year-old bank employee, said: "I don't find this ban a good idea. People should be left in peace. But I will have to abide by it because I don't want to pay the fine."