smoking ban

[gordy99]

hi all can anyone shed any light on rumours that from 19 july turkish goverment is introducing a smoking ban this is to include bars hotels and restaurants please tell me this is not true individuals caught smoking in prohibited areas could be fined please anybody put my mind at rest thanks

[gordy99]

hi if you go on turkey news there is a big spread i fear my holidays are over i cant live without my trusted ciggie

[blondie]

There have been a couple of threads on the forum about this in the past - if you do a search, you should find them.

EDITED

[gordy99]

yes read last threads but this law has only just been passed by turkish goverment yesterday all i want to know is what and when does it include blondie you live a long life not smoking but everyone to there own

[blondie]

There you go|:

"Turkey will on Sunday introduce a tight ban on smoking in cafes, restaurants and bars, wielding fines for offenders, in a bid to break a national habit blamed for tens of thousands of deaths each year.

The ban is an extension of existing legislation introduced by the Islamist-rooted government, which prohibited smoking in workplaces and public spaces in May last year while giving cafes and restaurants 18 months to adjust.

Now that the transition period expires on July 19, the owners of these establishments have to clear up ashtrays, put up signs against smoking and refuse to serve clients who insist on lighting up.

Although the legislation allows smoking in the courtyards of these premises, the site in question should not be covered with even a sunshade or awning in order to qualify as an open space.

Non-compliance with the ban will result in a fine of 69 liras (45 dollars, 32 euros) for smokers while the establishment itself will have to pay 560 liras for a first-time offence and up to 5,600 liras for repeat offences."

[gordy99]

thanks mate have a good day cheers

[blondie]

You're welcome - you can pop out for a fag now while you digest that information!

[dksbbs]

I disagree with your statement about awnings, the actual law refers to enclosed areas, and it's defintion is given as follows:

Any area with a mobile or fixed ceiling or roof – including tents and sunshades – that has doors, windows and permanent or temporary walls, except for entrances, and areas that have ceilings or roofs and more than half of the sides sealed are deemed “enclosed areas.”

So an awning is normally open on three sides so should be OK to smoke.

Saying that I'm a smoker but I am happy to go outside like I do in the UK, the advantage is I won't be standing in the rain.


Dave

[blondie]

That's not actually MY statement - copied from a site giving details of the new regulations.

[quaker57]

Most of the bars and restaurant are outside anyway how does that work

[dksbbs]

That's not actually MY statement - copied from a site giving details of the new regulations.

My apolgies I didn't mean to directly attribute you to the statement, maybe I should have used the words posted.

Different sites are saying different things and interpreting things in different ways, I'm over there in a couple of weeks so will be able to post back on my finding if others who are there now haven't done so.

Dave

[tamii]

yeah please do Dave. I'm sure a lot of forum members will be anxious to hear how the change has affected the bars/restaurants

[Colette]

Before we go any further on this, can we keep personal opinions out of it and stick to facts. If I see opions they will be deleted, as this leads to arguments over this thread everytime.

Many Thanks

[Erik The Viking]

Turkey's government is setting up a 4,500-strong team to help enforce an upcoming no-smoking ban in bars, restaurants and coffeehouses in this country of heavy smokers, a Health Ministry official said Thursday.

On July 19, a year-old ban on indoor public smoking will be widened to include bars, restaurants, and even smoky, hazy village coffeehouses and hookah bars, despite protests from owners who fear it will bring ruin to businesses already suffering from the effects of an economic crisis. The ban already covers offices, public transport and shopping malls.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamic-rooted government - keen to reduce smoking rates and the effects of second-hand smoke on people's health - has dismissed the protests and calls for the ban to be postponed.

A Health Ministry official said the force would carry out surprise checks on bars, restaurants and coffeehouses where men traditionally pass time lighting up, drinking tea or coffee and playing backgammon and card games.

He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government rules barring civil servants from speaking to journalists without prior authorization.

Around 1,000 inspectors will be assigned to monitor bars, cafes and restaurants in Turkey's three largest cities - Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, while the rest will be scattered around other parts of the country. The official said the number of inspectors could be increased in the future.

Patrons breaking the ban will be fined 69 Turkish Lira ($45; euro32), while owners who do not enforce the ban could be fined between 560 and 5,600 Turkish Lira ($366-$3,660; euro260-euro2,600).

More than 100,000 people die annually in Turkey from smoking-related illnesses, according to official figures. "To smoke like a Turk" is a common expression in many European countries to describe someone who smokes a lot.

Enforcing smoking bans has proven difficult in the country where, according to Yesilay, an organization devoted to fighting alcohol and tobacco consumption, around 40 percent of Turks over the age of 15 are smokers, consuming around 17 million packs a day.

Davut Kaya, the owner of a smoke-filled coffeehouse in Ankara's Dikmen neighborhood, says he fears for his business.

"Ninety percent of my customers are smokers. They come here to get rid of their stress by smoking and playing cards. I cannot see them going outdoors to smoke every 10 minutes. They will stop coming here," he said.

"There's no way I'm going to stop smoking," 64-year-old Turan Akdeniz, a self-declared chain-smoker intervened, looking up from his game of Rummy. "I'd rather stay at home than stop

[John V]

Will NO SMOKING notices be on display in areas to advise people as deciding if you inside or outside the establishment in Turkey can be very differcult more so than in the UK.

[JT]

I wonder then when the smokers are standing outside the entrance to a restaurant will it put off people coming in as I read in a UK paper last year that people now feel intimidated by gangs of people hanging around the front doors of pubs smoking and they dont go in.

Another thing is when these people are standing outside and the doorman talks to them will the place be closed down because the zabita deem them to be harassing them to come in.

Its like a hanging court in Icmeler as in even if the doorman has gone out to put one of his guests in a cab for home and the zabita (SS) see it they close the place for 3 days without any defence

[quaker57]

Yeah admin i heard stories like that when i was there in June.

[tinkerbelle]

What about boat trips?
Not bothered about going outside like here but if you have to go outside during the day with no shade allowed, I think extra suntan cream will be essential. Or a parasol they can't stop you using one of those , can they?
or a big hat, oh dear.

[Katiehutchinson_1991]

yeah as of 19th which was 2 days ago there is no smoking inside bars and restaurants anymore
the turks are finding it hard to get used to it cause normally they would just light up anywhere
xxxx

[jo_marie]

So what about the bars that are sort of outside, well most of them, do you have to get up from your seat and walk to the pavement??!!!??