Tobacco.org

Turkish law to stub out smoking  

Turkey is about to break with its smoky past and introduce a law that bans lighting up in public buildings and at work places and threatens offenders with fines of up to 250,000 lira (Dh727,000).

But the question is: will anyone take note?

The "law for the prevention and control of damages done by tobacco products", which was passed by parliament in January and comes into force on May 19, bans smoking in public buildings and private companies as well as in facilities used for education, sport, social activities or cultural events. Public transport will also have to be smoke-free, the law said; even taxi drivers will have to stop smoking in their cars.

Open-air facilities, such as sport stadiums or concert arenas as well as old people's homes and prisons, can designate smoking areas. Bars, restaurants and tea-houses have been granted a grace period but will have to be smoke-free by July 19 next year.

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