Major changes await vacationers in Turkey. Several of Antalya’s popular beaches will soon be smoke-free as authorities expand smoke-free zones and step up efforts to reduce environmental pollution along the coast. . The measure is part of the city’s green strategy as it prepares to host the COP31 climate conference later this year.
- There will be a complete ban on smoking on several popular beaches in Antalya.
- The smoking ban should also be extended to playgrounds, schools, prayer rooms and other public spaces.
- Environmental activists are calling for a nationwide ban on smoking on beaches and tougher penalties.
- Fines for violating the smoking ban will increase to 5,000 Turkish lira.
The initiative comes as Turkish authorities consider expanding nationwide tobacco restrictions. The upcoming bill would ban smoking and the use of other tobacco products, including hookahs, in a wider range of public spaces, such as beaches, children’s playgrounds, sports fields, schools, medical facilities and places of worship.
Local officials stress that the new restrictions would initially apply to Lara, Belek, Çamyuva and Beach Park beaches. This represents the first phase of a wider initiative to create smoke-free public spaces.
You can get a heavy fine for smoking in a prohibited zone. (illustrative photo)
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İzzet Ünlü, president of environmental group Antalya Maritime Platform, which focuses on protecting coastal ecosystems, called for a nationwide ban on smoking on beaches. At the same time, he appealed to the legislators to tighten the penalties for people who throw cigarette butts in public areas. He pointed to Spain and France, Turkey’s main competitors in the Mediterranean tourism industry, where smoking is prohibited on many beaches and violations can lead to fines ranging from 30 euros to 2,000 euros.
According to the proposed law, the use of tobacco products would also be prohibited on the terraces of restaurants and cafes. In addition, establishments should not serve food or drinks in designated smoking areas.
At the same time, the draft law would significantly increase the fines for violating the regulations. People caught smoking in prohibited places are currently at risk a fine of 1764 Turkish liras (33 euros). According to the new law, this sanction would rise to 5,000 lire (94 euros). Companies that violate these regulations would face a fine of up to 10 million lira (190,000 euros) and, in extreme cases, the revocation of their license.
