“To smoke like a Turk” is a common expression in many European countries to describe someone who smokes a lot. But that expression may soon be a thing of the past as the government in Ankara is setting up a 4,500-strong team to help enforce an upcoming no-smoking ban in restaurants and coffeehouses, a Health Ministry official said Thursday. On July 19, a year-old ban on indoor public smoking will be widened to include restaurants, and even smoky, hazy village coffeehouses and hookah bars, despite protests from owners who fear it will bring ruin to businesses already suffering from the effects of an economic crisis. The ban already covers offices, public transport and shopping malls. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government has dismissed the protests and calls for the ban to be postponed. A Health Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the force would carry out surprise checks on restaurants and coffeehouses where men traditionally pass time lighting up, drinking tea or coffee and playing backgammon and card games. Around 1,000 inspectors will be assigned to monitor cafes and restaurants in Turkey's three largest cities – Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, while the rest will be scattered around other parts of the country. The official said the number of inspectors could be increased in the future. Patrons breaking the ban will be fined 69 Turkish Lira ($45), while owners who do not enforce the ban could be fined between 560 and 5,600 Turkish Lira ($366-$3,660). More than 100,000 people die annually in Turkey from smoking-related illnesses, according to official figures. Enforcing smoking bans has proven difficult in the country where, according to Yesilay, an organization devoted to fighting alcohol and tobacco consumption, around 40 percent of Turks over the age of 15 are smokers, consuming around 17 million packs a day.
