SMOKE LIKE A TURK NO MORE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001063

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON TU
SUBJECT: SMOKE LIKE A TURK NO MORE

1.(SBU) Summary. On July 19, Turkey banned smoking in all
enclosed public spaces, including bars, cafes, and
restaurants. This second installment of a smoking ban that
began in May 2008 came into effect amid public and business
complaints. Turkey has ONE of the highest cigarette
consumption rates in the world, and HEALTH officials and
non-smokers are delighted with the new law. The ban was
opposed by smokers, many business owners, and some in the
secularist camp who see the smoking ban not as a HEALTH
measure but as a GOT attempt to impose conservative religious
values and as a first step towards an alcohol ban. To the
surprise of many, however, compliance appeared to be quite
high during the law's first week. End Summary.

Law No. 4207
--------------

2. (U) Parts of Law no. 4207 entered into force on May 5,
2008, banning smoking in taxis, malls and offices. The second
and more comprehensive part came into effect on July 19. It
provides:
-------------- Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed spaces, including
those at restaurants, cafes, coffee houses, bars and all
entertainment centers, in public transportation vehicles
(including taxis),in both open and enclosed spaces at
education, arts, and sporting event areas. Special enclosed
spaces can be assigned within these facilities for smoking,
but cannot exceed 50 percent of the total space. This means
that nargile (water pipe) cafes with no outdoor seating will
have to shut down. These cafes are popular in tourist areas.
-------------- Smoking is not banned in prisons, nursing homes, mental
hospitals or on the decks of ferries. However, there must be
an area assigned specially for smoking that children will not
be able to enter.
-------------- Smoking is allowed in open gardens as long as the proper
equipment is installed to ensure that nonsmokers are not
bothered b the cigarette smoke.
-------------- Smoking is prohibited under umbrellas erected in gardens.
Smoking is only allowed if all four sides of an area are
open and the sky is visible.
-------------- Hotels will be able to have rooms available that smoking
is allowed, but children will not be able to stay in those
rooms.
-------------- Cigarettes may not be sold at heath, education,
entertainment or sports facilities.
-------------- Provincial smoking-control councils are being established
by the HEALTH Ministry.
Penalties for Smoking
--------------

3. (U) Smokers violating the law will be fined 69 Turkish
Liras. Bars and restaurants that violate the law will be
fined 500 liras. For subsequent violations of the law the
fines will increase up to 5,600 liras. The Ministry of HEALTH
has trained a 5,000 person task force to patrol establishment
and dole out fines to anyone caught lighting up. Ministry
inspection teams will fine violators of the new law, and the
GOT expects fines to provide a significant monetary infusion
into the Treasury. The MOH will also establish complaint
hotlines in every city, and citizens will be able to inform
authorities about people not abiding by the law.
Health Officials Are Happy
--------------

4. (U) The smoking ban is being praised by HEALTH officials
and non-smokers. HEALTH advocates are hoping that the
legislation will be taken seriously, saying that it will
protect against secondhand smoke and help Turks quit smoking.
According to the World HEALTH Organization Turkey has ONE of
the highest consumption of cigarettes in the world, with
about half of men and 20 percent of women smoking. A 2003
WHO survey of 16,000 Turkish teenagers revealed that 11
percent were regular smokers, and about 30 percent had tried
their first cigarette before the age of 10. GOT HEALTH care
officials estimate that about 100,000 Turks die annually from
tobacco related illnesses, costing billions every year in
health care expenses.
Smokers, Businesses and Secularists are Not
--------------

5. (SBU) For the country that inspired the phrase &to smoke
like a Turk8 imposing a comprehensive public smoking ban was
a quite controversial move. To the surprise of many,
compliance with the smoking ban appears to be quite high, at
least during the law's first week in force. Historically,
alcohol and cigarettes have gone hand in hand in Turkey, and
many Turks say the law will push people into parks and
streets if they cannot smoke and drink in a pub or caf, or
chain smoke through dinner in a restaurant.

6. (SBU) The ban was opposed by many business owners,
smokers, and some in the secularist camp who see the smoking
ban not as a HEALTH measure but as a GOT attempt to impose
conservative religious values and as a first step towards an
alcohol ban. Many business owners, especially owners of
restaurants and bars, say they expect a sharp decline in

ANKARA 00001063 002 OF 002


business. However, business owners in tourist areas are
generally happier with the ban, because they believe
non-smoking tourists will feel more comfortable in previously
smokey restaurants, cafes, and bars and make up for any loss
of Turkish customers.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey

JEFFREY