Draft Law: Türkiye to Ban All Tobacco Sales by 2040

The Turkish government is preparing legislation that will end legal tobacco sales entirely by January 1, 2040. Coordinated between the ruling party and the Ministry of Health, the draft bill introduces phased restrictions on public smoking, mandates digital sales tracking, and stiffens penalties before the full commercial ban takes effect.

Broadening Outdoor Smoking Bans

The proposed legislation restricts public smoking far beyond existing indoor rules. Smoking will be prohibited in outdoor sections of cafes and restaurants, as well as on beaches, in sports venues, places of worship, healthcare centers, and educational institutions.

Restaurants and cafes may operate designated smoking spaces only if they are physically separated from main areas and serve no food or beverages. On public beaches, smoking will be restricted to specialized cabins placed at least 200 meters apart.

Electronic Sales Tracking and Prison Terms

To reduce illegal distribution, the law mandates that all tobacco transactions be processed electronically through a centralized tracking system. The legal definition of tobacco will expand to cover electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco items, hookahs, and products containing organic or synthetic nicotine.

Selling any of these items to minors will carry a mandatory prison term of six months to one year, eliminating purely financial resolutions for underage distribution offenses.

Escalating Penalties and State Oversight

Enforcement authority will transfer from local municipalities to central government administrators, with provincial and district governors directing specialized inspection teams.

Violation Category	Proposed Penalty
Smoking in restricted public areas	5,000 Turkish liras fine
Commercial operator violations	5,000 to 10,000,000 liras (plus license suspension)
Post-2040 tobacco possession or purchase	50,000 to 250,000 liras fine
Post-2040 commercial sale, import, or manufacture	1,000,000 to 5,000,000 judicial fine (inflation-adjusted)

This initiative expands Türkiye’s “Smoke-Free Airspace” policy established in 2009, setting a timeline to end commercial tobacco distribution nationwide over the next 15 years.

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