University faculty member Dr. M. Cengiz Yıldız recently completed a research project that surveyed 1,000 coffeehouse patrons in light of the newly implemented ban on indoor smoking across the nation. The findings paint a picture of coffeehouse culture that is in some ways strikingly different from the commonly held views of traditionally male-dominated cafés where people come to while away hours of their time.
Perhaps one of the most surprising bits of survey data regards the age of most coffeehouse patrons. A full 29.4 percent of regulars fell between the ages of 21 and 25, the largest percentage represented by an age group. Sixteen percent of those surveyed were university graduates. About 41 percent said they were first introduced to the coffeehouse by a neighborhood friend. Contrary to popular belief, coffeehouses are not just recreational centers for the unemployed. Of regulars, 16.38 percent are students, 16.25 percent own their own businesses, 15.88 percent are laborers, 13.38 percent are tradesmen and 5.25 percent are teachers. Only 8 percent are unemployed.
Some data come as no surprise
In the survey, 78.5 percent of coffeehouse patrons admitted that they felt the time they spent at the establishments stole away time that they should have spent with their spouses and/or children. Married men comprised over half of coffeehouse regulars surveyed (51 percent). Coffeehouse regulars say they go for one of two reasons: to play games (55.8 percent) and to chat (33.62 percent). The most popular game is OK (63.62 percent).
And the air really is hazy in coffeehouses (or at least was until the smoking ban began) -- cigarette consumption in Turkish coffeehouses is at a percentage more than twice the national average. Yıldız's study notes that while about 30 percent of Turks are smokers, nearly 70 percent of coffeehouse patrons smoke. Of these smokers, 49.3 percent smoke a pack a day, 16 percent smoke two packs a day and 1.8 percent smoke three packs of cigarettes a day. While 30.04 percent just hang out in the smoky atmosphere without lighting up themselves, 26.5 percent of coffeehouse smokers say they believe the coffeehouse environment leads them to smoke more than they normally would.
According to Yıldız's study, which he has published in book form under the title “Kahvehane Kültürü” (Coffeehouse Culture), there are over 170,000 coffeehouses in İstanbul, Turkey's most populous province. The Tekirdağ province, however, is home to the most coffeehouses per capita, with one coffeehouse per 203 people. The province is followed by Muğla, with a ratio of 203:1; Uşak (255:1), Aydın (324:1) and Manisa (371:1).
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