A majority of participants in public opinion surveys conducted by the Turkish Green Crescent (Yeşilay) support new measures aimed at protecting children and young people from tobacco and nicotine addiction, according to findings released Thursday.
The surveys examined public attitudes toward potential amendments to the tobacco control law, including the “Tobacco-Free Generation” approach, restrictions on new-generation nicotine products and reducing the visibility of tobacco products at points of sale.
A total of 1,461 people participated in the digital survey, while 5,481 people took part in a face-to-face field survey conducted across Türkiye’s seven regions.
According to the findings, 91.4% of digital survey participants support new regulations aimed at protecting children and young people from tobacco and nicotine addiction.
Support for the “Tobacco-Free Generation” approach, which proposes banning the sale of tobacco products to people born in 2015 or later, stands at 89.3% in the digital survey and 83.2% in the field survey.
Meanwhile, 84.5% of participants support preventing tobacco products from being displayed visibly at points of sale, while 89.6% support stronger restrictions on tobacco products on digital platforms.
Some 91.6% of digital survey participants also support measures to reduce tobacco use and visibility in public spaces.
The surveys also show that participants widely perceive new-generation tobacco and nicotine products as harmful to health.
Some 96.3% of participants consider electronic cigarettes harmful, while 92.9% say disposable vape products are harmful and 91.5% hold the same view of heated tobacco products.
Yeşilay President professor Mehmet Dinç said Türkiye faces a serious challenge related to tobacco use, arguing that regulatory measures are needed to protect public health.
“We say regulation, not a ban,” Dinç said, emphasizing that the organization primarily wants the measures to protect children and young people.
He said Yeşilay fully supports the Health Ministry’s work on new tobacco control regulations and expressed hope that the legislation would pass through Parliament.
