Turkey - smoking ban a year later, goals are being achieved..

July 17, 2010 - On July 19, 2009 the Turkish Government - made a major move to improve the health of its citizens..

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamic-rooted government is keen to reduce smoking rates and the effects of second-hand smoke on people's health. He insists the battle against cigarette usage is as crucial as the "struggle against terrorism." Prime Minister Erdogan is now the driving force behind the next phase of a popular ban taking effect on July 19, which aims to curb the habit in a country where 22 million people, including around half the adult male population, smoke. (Smoke like a Turk?’ Not after looming ban But unlike in 17th-century Istanbul, violators won't be executed, MSNNBC - Reuters, 7/16/2009)

July 16, 2009 - Turkey - smoking ban starting July 19th will be enforced - these guys are serious..

Turkey's largest city of Istanbul on Friday, July 16th reported a 20 percent drop in patients checking into emergency rooms for cigarette-related illness thanks to the one- year smoking ban. The results of the study was announced by the Istanbul Health Department and Marmara University Medical School.

The study said that the number of patients checking into emergency rooms for smoking related health complications has decreased in the year after the smoking ban. Istanbul Health Director Ali Ihsan Dokucu said that compared to the same period of last year, the first five months of 2010 had 20 percent less patients checking into emergency rooms for cigarette- related illnesses.

Meanwhile, the reduction in smoking has caused a savings of 2.9 million Turkish Lira (about 1.9 million U.S. dollars) in medicine costs. Dokucu said "this situation is concrete proof of the success of the smoking ban."

President of the Cigarettes and Health National Committee Elif Bagli said that compared to the first five months of 2009, 363 million less packs of cigarettes were sold in 2010, resulting in a saving of 1.8 billion liras. She added that there was also 30 percent reduction in heart attacks, saying "this ban has not only benefited us health-wise, but also generated financial gain."

Those who breaks the ban will be punished by a fine about 45 U. S. dollars.

The ban brings Turkey into line with most European Union states, but while Turkey is an aspirant European Union (EU) member, it said that the ban is being imposed for health reasons.

Reference: Turkey's Istanbul benefits from smoking ban, Editor: Han Jingjin, Xinhuanet.com, 7/17/2010.

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