Turkey will implement new regulations prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to specific groups of people to curb tobacco use.
These measures signal a tightening of public health controls in a nation struggling with one of the highest rates of tobacco dependency globally. The move aims to reduce the long-term healthcare burden associated with smoking-related illnesses.
Deputy Health Minister Şuayip Birinci said the new rules were announced during the MED AI 2026 congress held in Erzurum [1]. The restrictions are designed to target specific populations to prevent the initiation of smoking and reduce overall consumption levels.
Birinci said Turkey currently ranks second in the world for smoking prevalence [1]. This high ranking has prompted the ministry to seek stricter control measures to protect public health and lower the national smoking rate.
The announcement took place during a gathering of medical and artificial intelligence professionals, highlighting the intersection of technology and public health management. While the specific groups prohibited from purchasing cigarettes were not detailed in the initial announcement, the ministry said the rules are part of a broader strategy to combat the epidemic of nicotine addiction.
Government officials have previously emphasized the need for systemic changes to the tobacco market. The new rules reflect a shift toward more aggressive intervention to move Turkey down the global rankings of smoking prevalence [1].
“Turkey currently ranks second in the world for smoking prevalence.”
The decision to target specific demographics for sales prohibitions indicates that Turkey is moving away from general public awareness campaigns toward restrictive legislative action. By citing its global rank in smoking prevalence, the government is framing tobacco use as a national health crisis that requires state-level intervention to reduce the economic and medical costs of chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
