Smoking ban implemented in Turkey

Posted by Maria Khan on 7/19/09 • Categorized as Europe, Health

According to Gulf News, today marks the day when Turkey expands its indoor smoking ban to bars, restaurants and coffee houses.

The smoking ban was initially levied in offices, public transport and other public areas in May, 2008, and bars, cafés and restaurants were granted a grace period, which lasted til Saturday at midnight, according to Gulf News. The ban also extends to include traditional waterpipe cafés, which at the current state of economic crisis is being highly criticized by conventionalists, according to Euro News.

The legislation imposes fines ranging from 50 Turkish lira (£22; $44) for smokers to 5,000 lira (£2,200; $4,400) for restaurant and cafe owners. While smokers have expressed anger and a violation of their civil rights, health campaigners are praising the law in light of the smoking-related illnesses, which cost Turkey up to 3 billion lira (£1.4bn; $2.7bn) a year, according to BBC.

Twitterers in Istanbul are skeptical and comical at the news:

muratkgirgin (Istanbul, Turkey) New smoking area http://ff.im/-5j1O6 16 Jul 2009 from FriendFeed

muratlecompte (Istanbul, Turkey) Lights out! Turkey is next country to ban smoking.. July 19th! http://bit.ly/8CghH 17 Jul 2009 from web

ern_bydmr (Istanbul, Turkey) smoking in living room! 18 Jul 2009 from web

fgeerdink (Istanbul, Turkey) smoke free life has begun, newspapers write. wish that was true, people will smoke outside now, pavements need to be broadened i guess 19 Jul 2009 from twhirl

sobesan (Istanbul, Turkey) good morning all…special day today…smoking ban in turkey is active …MUHAHAHA 19 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck

mehmetbinay (Istanbul, Turkey) celebrating a smoke-free Istanbul 19 Jul 2009 from web

max_forlani @fgeerdink (Istanbul, Turkey) Oh, the smoking ban in schools is over one year old and teachers still smoke there. Turks even still drive through red lights 19 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck in reply to fgeerdink

The global Twitterverse predominately rejoices the smoke-free Turkey:

Horseytalk (Sussex, UK) Turkey is going to ban smoking in bars and cafes. There will be lots of hookahs on the streets then. 18 Jul 2009 from web

val1a (Athens, Greece) The French, Italians, Greeks, all did it. Turkey is Next to Ban Smoking http://w… Read More: http://is.gd/1DtZg 18 Jul 2009 from Tweetie

Blacklion15 (Undisclosed) the dumbass anti-smoking ban will go in effect in Turkey tomorrow. [Expletive] that [expletive] I will smoke more cigars than ever just to piss it off! 18 Jul 2009 from web

mdial (Paris, France) marvelling about the extended smoking ban in Turkey, despite the large number of smokers: http://htxt.it/wR9t 19 Jul 2009 from HelloTxt

GokmenUcok (Dubai, UAE) The extended smoking ban is in force starting from today in Turkey. Waiting to hear the stories on how it is implemented. 19 Jul 2009 from web

inkones (Vienna, Austria) Turkey extends smoking ban. Seemed so common there. Workarounds even in less strict Austria. Curious what will happen. http://bit.ly/4ByAdL 19 Jul 2009 from web

briankingong http://tinyurl.com/lzjbaa (Turkey imposes smoking ban) I think I would love to migrate to Turkey (evil_grin) J… http://plurk.com/p/1be13c 19 Jul 2009 from API

30point2 (Las Vegas, Nev.) Turkey Smoking Ban -Fines are up to €3′6000 for owners and €30 for guests. 4′500 control personnel being on the watch to reinforce the law. 19 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck

mariayzk (Chicago, Ill.) Turkish smokers go Cold! http://bit.ly/nYNTv #euronews 19 Jul 2009 from web

mattbish (New York) RT @endeavoringE: RT @Social_Innovate Beaches, Fish Win Big As Turkey Bans Smoking http://bit.ly/XGRr1 – can’t wait to see if the ban works! 19 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck