Minister Memişoğlu: We are trying to prevent the sale of cigarettes to our children and young people

Regarding the regulations on smoking, Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu said, "We are trying to prevent the sale of this harmful substance to our people, children and young people, with a method that will only prevent the sale of cigarettes to people under the age of 18. We are working on how to make this ban more effective." he said.

Memişoğlu answered journalists' questions after visiting AK Party Group Chairman Abdullah Güler and MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli in the Parliament, where he came within the scope of the "minister on duty" practice.

Stating that the biggest cause of heart attack, cancer and stroke diseases in Türkiye is the use of tobacco and tobacco products, Memişoğlu pointed out that today 63 percent of people die from cancer and such diseases.

Stating that they want smoking citizens to get rid of this habit, Memişoğlu stated that a study conducted by the Green Crescent today shows that 80 percent of smokers are trying to quit smoking. Memişoğlu stated that smokers are also not satisfied with cigarettes and said:

"We say 'let's quit together', let's fight smoking together. Because it gives you cancer, increases the risk of having a heart attack, causes shortness of breath, and disrupts your sleep quality. It is a harmful thing. As Turkey, we achieved great success between 2008-2010, but this success has declined in recent years. We are trying to revitalize it. We are especially trying to keep smoking away from our youth and children, and we are trying to save this country from being visible and obvious. Unfortunately, lung cancer is especially important." "We are the world's first in men's category."

Minister Memişoğlu stated that according to the law on cigarettes, the sale of cigarettes to young people under the age of 18 is prohibited, but according to a survey, questions were asked to 220 thousand young people between the ages of 13-15 and it was concluded that 73.3 percent of them could buy cigarettes. Stating that the age to start smoking in Türkiye is 17, Memişoğlu continued his words as follows:

"It is normally forbidden to sell cigarettes to people under the age of 18. We are working on this in our draft law. This has nothing to do with personal data or exposing people. We will ask the age of our people, especially our young people, when selling it to our people, just like there are examples in the world, as in developed countries. We are looking at the method of asking age, perhaps through the QR code we did in Covid, or other examples. I want people to be absolutely sure of this. It is something that has nothing to do with anyone's private privacy. It is just a law that will prevent the sale of cigarettes to people under the age of 18." "We are trying to prevent this harmful substance from being sold to our people, children and young people. We are working on how to make this ban more effective."

Memişoğlu, "How were your meetings?" "We expect everyone to support this. We expect not only the Ministry of Health, but the whole society to support this. We hold our meetings routinely." he replied.