Tobacco.org

• Pressure on smokers to delay ban 

A quarter of all deputies in Parliament are smokers and they are being lobbied by certain businesses to delay the second stage of the smoking ban, a survey has revealed.

Experts from Hacettepe University Public Health Branch conducted a survey among parliamentary deputies on smoking habits and the prevention of smoking in public places. According to the related law, restaurants, teahouses, cafes and pubs will be added to the already smoke-free places after June 19. Lobbyists, including restaurant and cafe owners, are putting pressure on deputies to delay the implementation of the second stage.

One-third quit smoking

The survey was conducted among 246 deputies. Results showed 22 percent of deputies smoked every day and 4.5 percent smoked occasionally. The rate of deputies who had quit smoking stood at 29.8 percent, while those who had never smoked numbered 43.7 percent.

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