Tobacco.org

Smoke ban officially extended to bars, restaurants 

Turkey -- a nation of smokers -- on Sunday extended a ban on indoor public smoking to bars, restaurants and even to the traditionally smoke-filled village coffeehouses.

The ban came into effect despite protests from bar and coffeehouse owners who fear it will ruin businesses that have already been hit hard by the economic crisis.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government barred smoking in offices, public transport and other public places in May 2008 in an effort to reduce the country's high smoking rate and the effects of passive smoking on people's health. Bars, restaurants and cafes were given a grace period that ended at midnight on Saturday.

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