Green Crescent Shares Findings of Public Opinion Surveys on New Tobacco Control Regulations
The Turkish Green Crescent Society shared the findings of two public opinion surveys on tobacco control policies at a press conference held at its headquarters at Sepetçiler Pavilion. The meeting focused on new regulatory measures proposed under Law No. 4207 and examined public views and expectations regarding tobacco control policies.
The two surveys, conducted using different methods, explored public attitudes toward a range of tobacco control measures, including protecting children and young people from tobacco and nicotine addiction, the “Tobacco-Free Generation” approach, regulations governing novel tobacco and nicotine products, reducing the visibility of tobacco products at points of sale, and restricting tobacco use in public spaces.
Strong Public Support for Protecting Children and the “Tobacco-Free Generation” Approach
A total of 1,461 people participated in the digital survey, while 5,481 people took part in an in-person field survey conducted across Türkiye’s seven geographic regions. The surveys examined public views and expectations regarding existing tobacco control measures as well as the new regulatory measures currently under consideration.
In the digital survey, 91.4% of respondents supported new regulations to protect children and young people from tobacco and nicotine addiction. One of the findings likely to spark public debate related to the “Tobacco-Free Generation” approach. Support for a policy that would prohibit the sale of tobacco products to people born in 2015 or later stood at 89.3% in the digital survey and 83.2% in the field survey.
The findings also showed strong support for reducing the visibility of tobacco products in everyday life. 84.5% of respondents supported measures to prevent tobacco products from being displayed prominently at points of sale. Support for tighter restrictions on tobacco products on digital platforms stood at 89.6%, while 91.6% of respondents in the digital survey backed measures to reduce tobacco use and the visibility of tobacco products in public spaces.
The survey also found that respondents widely perceived novel tobacco and nicotine products as harmful to health. 96.3% of respondents considered e-cigarettes harmful to health, compared with 92.9% for puff products and 91.5% for heated tobacco products.
“An Overwhelming Majority of the Public Supports These Regulations”
Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Dinç, President of the Turkish Green Crescent Society, emphasized the importance of tobacco and nicotine control in protecting public health, saying:
“We are calling for these regulations primarily for our children and young people, for the two-thirds of our population who do not smoke, and for those who want to quit smoking. As a civil society organization with a 106-year history, we want to emphasize the importance and urgency of the steps being taken by the Ministry of Health on this issue, and we fully support these efforts. Our research shows that an overwhelming majority of the public fully supports regulations on smoking. We cannot remain silent in the face of a problem that poses such a serious threat to our country. We have a responsibility to our people and to society as a whole. That responsibility requires us to take the necessary steps. I hope Parliament passes this legislation.”
“Non-Smokers Also Support These Measures”
Prof. Toker Ergüder, a member of the Scientific Committee of the Turkish Green Crescent Society, emphasized the need for tobacco control policies to also cover novel tobacco and nicotine products, saying:
“We are facing one of the world’s most deceptive and harmful industries. To make up for its declining customer base, the industry is using various tactics to make people in Türkiye more dependent on these products. We were very encouraged to see such strong public support for these measures even before the legislation is passed. Eighty percent of the public supports banning tobacco products in Türkiye after 2040, while support among smokers stands at 45%. These findings show that support comes not only from non-smokers but also from smokers.”
“The Public Is Ready and Willing to Support New Legislation”
Prof. H. Volkan Kara, a member of the Scientific Committee of the Turkish Green Crescent Society, emphasized the importance of measures to protect children and young people from tobacco and nicotine products, saying:
“Our study shows that we have support across all regions and segments of society in Türkiye. The public is ready and willing. New tobacco and nicotine products are a reality we need to address. These products are being presented to the public as less harmful, using language that casts doubt on the scientific evidence. At Green Crescent, together with the scientific community, we emphasize that, regardless of how the term ‘reduced harm’ is used, it does not mean that these products are harmless.”
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