“Of these people, 17,000 are passive smokers. About 3 million people suffer from various disorders, including difficulty in breathing due to lung problems, caused by tobacco,” he told the Anatolia news agency.Stating that Turkey has taken important steps in its fight against tobacco, Özfatura cited the indoor smoking ban, enacted on July 19, 2009, and said it led to a decrease in tobacco use. Noting that there have been few violations of the smoking ban, Özfatura said, “According to the latest surveys, 90 percent support the ban and comply with it.” He also added that about 50 million people can now exercise their right to breathe clean air in closed places because of the ban.
Noting that Turkey is the sixth country to adopt the suggestion of the World Health Organization (WHO) to ban smoking in closed places, Özfatura said Turkey is among the most successful countries, along with Ireland and the UK, when it comes to providing smoke-free zones.
Stating that about 20 million people smoke in Turkey, Özfatura noted that close to $20 billion is spent every year on tobacco products in the country. “Laws No. 4207 and 5727, the legal basis of the smoking ban, do two things: They have led to a decrease in tobacco consumption and they have ensured that money which would otherwise have been spent on foreign cigarette brands remains in Turkey. The amount of money spent on treating diseases caused by smoking is three times the amount paid by tobacco companies in taxes.”
Özfatura further said that allegations that businesses have lost profit due to the smoking ban are hard to believe. “According to the central bank, while the gross domestic product [GDP] fell by 3.3 percent in the third half of 2008-2009, revenue in the hotel and restaurant sector rose by 5.2 percent. More coffeehouses have been opened than closed. The law does not forbid people from smoking [entirely]; it only prevents smoking in places shared by smokers and nonsmokers. Let me say this again, having a room for smokers in an enclosed area is not a solution. No technology exists that can clear the air of tobacco smoke.”
