• March 28, 2024

Despite deterrents Turkey still smoking

In a new report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) that ranks countries based on their cigarette consumption, Turkey came out in eighth place, despite the government’s considerable efforts at curbing smoking, according to a story in the Zaman daily newspaper.

The newspaper reported that while tobacco consumption in the West seemed to be on the decline, the new research suggested that it was on the rise globally.

And according to the World Health Organization, of the world’s 1 billion smokers, almost 80 percent live in low or middle-income countries.

A total of 5.8 trillion cigarettes were reported to have been smoked last year, with China, Russia and the US having smoked the most.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the issue of smoking during his time as prime minister and an amendment to Law 4207 on the prevention and control of the hazards created by tobacco products was passed by parliament on January 3, 2008.

The amendment banned smoking in public places and set out the penalties for not complying.

Another amendment to the anti-smoking law, which banned indirect advertising of cigarette brands, was passed by parliament on July 4, 2012.

The newspaper said, however, that these amendments had proven to be ineffective deterrents; as had been indicated by the recent report.