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Turkey debates tobacco ban in bars, restaurants
Men playing backgammon and puffing on cigarettes and hookahs in smoke-filled village coffeehouses could soon become a hazy memory of Turkey's past.
- AP
- Published: 01:31 January 3, 2008
Ankara: Men playing backgammon and puffing on cigarettes and hookahs in smoke-filled village coffeehouses could soon become a hazy memory of Turkey's past.
Smoking is already barred on buses and airplanes and in larger offices. But yesterday parliament began debate on a proposal to expand the smoking ban to all enclosed public areas, making it illegal for this tobacco-growing nation of smokers to light up in bars, restaurants and in coffeehouses. A vote was expected later in the day.
The draft Bill, which is backed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamic-rooted governing party, would also widen the ban to some open-air locations such as stadiums, sports facilities, playgrounds and gardens of hospitals and mosques.
Turkey - which hopes to join the European Union - was debating the measure as similar bans came into force in France and Germany.
Impassioned
Enforcing the existing ban on the impassioned smokers of Turkey has been tricky. No-smoking signs are frequently ignored - even inside hospitals - and it is not unusual to see people smoking next to no-smoking signs in public places. Under the new law, restaurants and bars would be required to allocate well-segregated smoking chambers.
The ban on smoking on public transport would be widened to taxis, ferries and trains in addition to planes and passenger buses, while television stations would be barred from airing shows in which people can be seen smoking.
A 50 Turkish Lira (Dh158) fine would be imposed on offenders. And owners of cafes, restaurants and bars would be fined up to 5,000 Turkish Lira if they allow customers to light up.
In 1997, Turkey banned smoking in offices with more than four workers, on some public transport, in sports centres and in places providing health, education and cultural services.
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