Doctors slam proposal to dilute smoking ban in Turkey

A letter jointly signed by The National Health and Cigarette Committee and the Istanbul Medical Chamber has been sent to CHP deputy Şevket Köşe condemning his proposal to the government for the terms and conditions of the smoking ban to be altered in favor of replacing outdoor smoking areas for indoor ones.

After news that a Parliament deputy submitted a proposal to water down the current smoking ban, the National Health and Cigarette Committee, or SSUK, on Tuesday sent him a giant postcard outlining the national health benefits of the smoking ban, and called for him to withdraw his proposal.

According to the committee, Republican People’s party, or CHP, deputy Şevket Köse sent a proposal to the government asking that amendments be made to the smoking ban laws so that smoking areas could be moved indoors.

“Regardless of whether they are kept away from nonsmokers or not, indoor smoking areas cause great damage to human health,” Chairman of the SSUK Elif Dağli said, speaking at a press conference at the Istanbul Medical Chamber on Tuesday.

Dağli highlighted that Turkey has seen the lowest cigarette consumption in years since the smoking ban began being implemented. “From July to November 2007, 233 million packs were consumed. During the same period in 2008, 185 million less packets were consumed,” Dağli said. He said during that time the hospitality industry also experienced an increase in its income of 5.2 percent, despite speculation that income would decrease after the ban.

“Prior to and after the ban, rumors circulated that the smoking ban would bring an end to many restaurants and cafes, but official research shows that this is not the case,” Dağli said. He added that the only industry negatively affected is the cigarette industry and hospitality sectors have witnessed an increase in income and national health has also improved.

Research carried out by the committee shows that in July, at the time the smoking ban was implemented, 3,168 establishments in the hospitality sector where shut down. A further 5,335 were opened, which resulted in a difference of 2,167. From August to October, another 7,317 establishments were opened and 4,219 closed.

/Hurriyet Daily News/