Smoking ban in public venues in Turkey helps people quit

The number of smokers in Turkey has decreased by 5 million over the past two years, which is seen to be a consequence of the smoking ban in indoor and some outdoor venues that went into effect two years ago.

Between July 2009 and today, the number of smokers has fallen from 26 million to 21 million, while annual cigarette sales have dropped from 107 billion to 93 billion in the same time period.

Turkish Anti-Smoking Association President Mustafa Aydın suggested that the significant drop in smoker numbers is an inspiration for future generations. He noted that quitting smoking is not just good for health reasons but it is also positive for the economy, Cihan News Agency reported.


/World Bulletin/