Turkey plans to impose restrictions on the use of hookahs and the operation of hookah bars in the country, according to Hurriyet Daily News.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said a few days ago on the occasion of World Cigarette Smoke Day (May 31) that “hookahs are even more harmful than cigarettes” and the government is preparing some changes “to save the people from this scourge”.
According to the president, “some people want to bypass his government’s fight against tobacco with hookahs, e-cigarettes or cigars.” “We know this,” he said.
“Electronic cigarettes are no different from others. They are cruel to people. We will not allow this to happen,” he said.
The president’s words drew attention to hookahs and hookah bars in the country. Since July 2009, smoking in public places has been strictly prohibited in Turkey, and only open-air hookah bars can be licensed. Before the pandemic in Istanbul, there were about 500 such institutions.
“We love our people. No one can deny our fight against smoking,” Erdogan told a youth meeting. “At our next meeting with Elon Musk, I will tell him to spend some money to fight cigarette use,” he added.