A new era begins. Cigarette sales will now be done with ID

Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu made statements about the fight against tobacco and tobacco products.

Speaking on TRT Haber, Memişoğlu explained the new regulation regarding cigarette sales.

Minister Memişoğlu stated that they are determined to fight against tobacco and tobacco products and said that Türkiye has achieved significant success in the fight against smoking in the past, but an increase in smoking rates has been observed in the recent period.

Pointing out that smoking is the root disease that causes nearly 60 percent of the causes of death in Türkiye, Minister Memişoğlu stated that they have made a great effort to quit smoking in the last two years to raise people's awareness on this issue.

Minister Memişoğlu continued as follows:

"As the Ministry of Health, we provide all smoking cessation medicines free of charge, and when you look at it, we have over 1,700 smoking cessation polyclinics. We have mobile smoking cessation polyclinics. 171, which we call 171, provides all kinds of support regarding smoking and quitting."

Minister Memişoğlu gave information about the bill prepared regarding the sale of cigarettes.

Stating that they will make it mandatory to present ID in cigarette sales and increase inspections, Minister Memişoğlu said, "The most basic issue in the preparation of our main law is to make cigarettes less visible. We are imposing restrictions in some areas." he said.

He announced that, in addition to restrictions in parks and gardens, it is planned to introduce age verification in order to prevent the sale of cigarettes, especially to those under 18 years of age.

AGE WILL BE VERIFIED THROUGH IDENTITY

With the new regulation, the age of people who buy cigarettes must be changed according to Turkish Republic. It is intended to be verified through identity information.

Memişoğlu explained the reason for the application as follows:

"Our main goal is this: It is already forbidden for people under a certain age to smoke cigarettes. Or rather, it is forbidden to sell them. This will be done by presenting their Turkish ID card or themselves. We will verify their age, which is currently prohibited to sell cigarettes under 18. They will show that too."