Turkey: no hookah pipe smoking for under 18

Islamic nationalist Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan's efforts to rid the nation of the smoking habit continue, as the National Assembly today voted to ban the use of hookah pipes by people under 18. From now on all hookahs must carry the same health warnings as cigarette packaging, while the appearance of smoking products or implements is severely forbidden in advertising, including in non-tobacco related campaigns. This follows on a 2009 nationwide ban on smoking in public places, offices, shops, bars, restaurants, stations, airports, stadiums, trains, taxis, airplanes, and children's play areas. ''Turkey is in the front lines among Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) countries in the fight against tobacco,'' said Muharrem Balci, president of the Islamic group Yesilay (Green Crescent) told Turkish media. One third of Turks still smoke, according to statistics. (ANSAMed).