19.07.2025 18:00
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with young people and athletes on the anniversary of the adoption of the Law on the Prevention and Control of the Harms of Tobacco Products. In his statements during the meeting, Erdoğan said, "It is our primary duty to free our nation, especially our youth, from harmful habits, particularly tobacco and alcohol."
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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated during his meeting with young people and athletes on the anniversary of the adoption of the Law on the Prevention and Control of the Harms of Tobacco Products, "It is our primary duty to save our nation, especially our youth, from harmful habits, particularly tobacco and alcohol."
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan came together with young people and athletes on the anniversary of the adoption of the Law on the Prevention and Control of the Harms of Tobacco Products.
"IT IS OUR PRIMARY DUTY"
During the meeting, Erdoğan said, "It is our primary duty to save our nation, especially our youth, from harmful habits, particularly tobacco and alcohol."
Erdoğan, who expressed, "I especially hope that our meeting will be a blessing for our country and nation, especially for you young people who are the architects of the century of Turkey," stated, "Strong states are undoubtedly made up of strong nations. One of the first conditions of being a strong nation is to have a healthy societal structure. In this regard, it is our primary duty to save our nation, especially our youth, from harmful habits, particularly tobacco and alcohol."
"TOBACCO AFFECTS MORE THAN JUST USERS"
Erdoğan stated during the meeting, "Every year, approximately 8 million people die due to health problems caused by tobacco use worldwide. Of these, 1.2 - 1.3 million are individuals affected by secondhand smoke, whom we refer to as passive smokers. In other words, tobacco does not only affect users; it also impacts children, women, and all segments of society exposed to secondhand smoke. In our country, approximately 100,000 people die prematurely each year due to diseases related to tobacco and tobacco products."
"WE TOOK A CRUCIAL STEP WITH THE SMOKING BAN"
President Erdoğan noted that they took a crucial step by prohibiting smoking in closed areas with the regulation of Law No. 4207, which was restructured and enacted in 2008.
Recalling that they implemented bans on advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products, Erdoğan stated that they prevented cigarette packages from being attractive through visuals, warnings, and single-color arrangements.
"MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION CITIZENS BENEFITED FROM TREATMENT SUPPORT"
President Erdoğan indicated that active inspection teams continue to carry out tobacco inspections across Turkey without interruption, stating, "Our Provincial Health Directorates have conducted over 42 million inspections to date. In the cross inspections of 2025, 3,718 violations were detected. We provide services to citizens who want to quit smoking through 671 smoking cessation clinics across our country, offering free medication support and nicotine therapy. To date, 3.8 million examinations have been conducted. More than 1.5 million citizens have benefited from treatment support. Similarly, we prepare personalized smoking cessation plans through the Alo 171 consultation line. We strive to keep our youth away from tobacco through our public service announcements, social media campaigns, and educational and awareness activities."
"WE WILL NOT ALLOW OUR YOUTH TO BE POISONED"
Erdoğan stated that they reached over 188,000 citizens with the "Quit Smoking, Change Your Life" campaign launched this year, saying, "We touched the lives of each of them. We will continue to work decisively for a smoke-free Turkey. We will not allow our youth to be poisoned with all our institutions, administrations, universities, and civil society organizations like the Green Crescent."
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