Turkey’s Health Minister Announces Plans for ID Checks When Buying Cigarettes
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu has announced that new regulations are being prepared as part of Turkey’s campaign against smoking. The proposed measures would introduce age verification for tobacco purchases and restrict the visibility of cigarettes in retail outlets.
New legislation planned to strengthen the fight against smoking
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu has outlined plans for new legislation targeting tobacco and tobacco products. The proposed measures aim to verify the age of people buying cigarettes using their Turkish national identity details, strengthen sales inspections and reduce the visibility of cigarettes. Rules governing designated smoking areas in cafés and restaurants are also expected to be revised.
Speaking on TRT Haber, Memişoğlu said Turkey had previously made significant progress in tackling smoking, but that smoking rates had begun to rise again in recent years.
He stressed that smoking was a major cause of diseases associated with approximately 60% of deaths in Turkey. He added that efforts to raise public awareness and help people quit smoking had been stepped up over the past two years.
Customers would have to show identification when buying cigarettes
Memişoğlu said one of the main aims of the proposed legislation was to reduce the visibility of cigarettes. Plans include introducing an identification requirement and age-verification procedures at the point of sale.
Inspections would be strengthened, particularly to prevent cigarettes from being sold to anyone under the age of 18. The minister said the intention was to ensure that existing restrictions were enforced more effectively.
Age verification through identity documents
Under the proposed system, the age of anyone wishing to buy cigarettes would be verified using their Turkish national identity details. The aim is to prevent sales to under-18s and strengthen enforcement of the legal age limit.
Memişoğlu noted that selling cigarettes to anyone under 18 is already illegal. Requiring customers to present identification, or a document that allows their identity details to be verified, would help ensure that age checks are carried out at the point of sale.
The precise details are expected to become clearer as the draft legislation progresses through the parliamentary process.
Free support for people who want to quit smoking
The minister also discussed services available to people wishing to give up smoking.
According to Memişoğlu, the Ministry of Health provides smoking-cessation medication free of charge. Turkey has more than 1,700 smoking-cessation clinics, he said, alongside mobile clinics and the ALO 171 Smoking Cessation Advice Line.
These services are intended to provide counselling and treatment for people seeking to quit.
Smoking areas in cafés and restaurants may be revised
The proposed legislation is also expected to revisit the rules governing smoking in enclosed spaces.
Turkey expanded its restrictions on smoking in enclosed public places outside private homes under Law No. 5727, published on 19 January 2008. The measures came fully into effect in July 2009.
Memişoğlu pointed to problems with the current arrangements for smoking and non-smoking sections, particularly in cafés and restaurants, where non-smokers can be disadvantaged.
The proposed changes aim to establish clearer rules for these areas and offer greater protection to people who do not smoke.
Restrictions on tobacco use in certain outdoor public spaces, including parks and gardens, may also be considered.
Draft legislation expected to reach Parliament in October
The new bill is expected to be submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly in October. Once it reaches Parliament, the scope of the proposed identification and age-verification requirements, along with the other planned restrictions, should become clearer.
