No Smoking

In Turkey, comes into effect a ban on smoking in public places. «I am quite openly declare that no derogation from the decision to ban smoking, enters into force on 19 July, will not. From taking measures to suffer only one sector, associated with the production and sale of cigarettes. Other victims will not be », - told journalists the Minister of Health of Turkey Recep Akdag. 
 

The law banning smoking in cafes, bars, restaurants, shopping and entertainment centers in all modes of transport, as well as tobacco advertising and display them in films, serials and music videos has been adopted by the Parliament of Turkey in January 2008. An exception is made only to public stadiums, one half of which will be an area open to smoking.

One of the most fervent opponents of smoking is the Turkish Prime Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who at one time compared the fight against smoking with the opposition to terror.

For violation of the law prohibiting smoking a fine of up to $ 3,7 thousand most severe measures were planned to take against the owners of establishments, which would violate the prohibition.

Monitor the execution of the law in Turkey will be the special unit created by the local authorities. Only in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir - Turkey's largest cities - the number of «tobacco inspectors» will be about a thousand people.

According to a recent survey conducted by the local Department of Statistics, about 40% of Turks aged 15 and older are smokers, consuming in the day about 17 million packs of cigarettes!