The globe continues to stage a merciless fight against the use of tobacco. In our country, our Ministry of Health knows no bounds in the fight against smoking. In addition to issuing harsher health warnings on cigarette packets, now nargiles will also be included for listing health warnings. The decision has been made to include a health warning placed on the glass portion and covering 65 percent of the water pipe.
This new regulation adopted by the Tobacco and Alcohol Market Regulatory Authority (TAPDK) has been released in the Official Gazette. Accordingly, from here on out all nargile water pipes will contain health warnings covering at least 65 percent of the pipe's glass portion that will read either :Dangerous to Health" or "All tobacco products can be dangerous to your health."
THE U.S. AND THE E.U.
The nargile has also been warned against by the United States. Commenting on the increased usage of water pipes, California Public Health Director Dr. Ron Chapman stated, "In truth, the water pipe carries the exact same risks as cigarette smoking." The European Union Commission has also issued a new ruling to prohibit menthol and thin cigarettes. Dissuasive photographs will be placed on cigarette packets.
Tobacco warriors and nargile servers comment on the recent regulation change:
Orhan Kural (Director of the Say No to Addiction and Cigarettes Association): Nargile is four to five times more dangerous than cigarettes. One advantage is the fact that it is not available everywhere, however that does not mean that there is still no danger.
A VERY IMPORTANT STEP
Dr. Zafer Özok (Warriors Against Cigarettes Association): The fight in our country and throughout the world against cigarettes is extremely pleasing. Placing a warning on the bottles of water pipes is a very good step in this struggle.
Mustafa Yıldırım (Nargile server): Now we are going to be placing warnings on the water pipes themselves. However, those passionate about nargile smoking will never end.
This is a translation of an article originally written by Gül Kireklo.
