- The launch event for the “Smoke-Free Campus, Healthy Future Project,” developed through the collaboration of the Ministry of Health, the Council of Higher Education, and the Green Crescent Society of Türkiye, was held in Istanbul.

- President of the Council of Higher Education Erol Özvar: “We want our campuses to be centers of health, sports, science, culture, the arts, and strong social connections—not of harmful habits.”

- “Our universities will support students and staff in quitting tobacco products.”

July 4, 2026

President of the Council of Higher Education Erol Özvar stated that they want university campuses to become centers of health, sports, science, culture, the arts, and strong social connections rather than places associated with harmful habits.

The launch event for the “Smoke-Free Campus, Healthy Future Project,” prepared through the collaboration of the Ministry of Health, the Council of Higher Education, and the Green Crescent Society of Türkiye, was held in Istanbul.

Speaking at the event hosted at the headquarters of the Green Crescent Society, President of the Council of Higher Education Erol Özvar emphasized that the Smoke-Free Campus initiative is not merely a measure to restrict tobacco use on university campuses. Rather, he described it as an important step toward making the fight against addiction an integral part of universities’ institutional culture and positioning campuses as centers of healthy living.

Özvar stated that, within this framework, regulations aimed at preventing the use of tobacco products will be implemented across campuses, covering not only indoor spaces but also outdoor areas and auxiliary facilities.

He also noted that the sale, advertising, promotion, and visibility of tobacco products within university campuses will be prohibited. Areas where tobacco use is permitted will be kept to an absolute minimum and will be located away from building entrances and areas with high student traffic.

Emphasizing that universities will support both students and staff in quitting tobacco products, Özvar said that accessible support mechanisms will be established in cooperation with smoking cessation clinics, counseling hotlines, and relevant healthcare institutions.

Highlighting that the guideline is not intended solely as a compliance or enforcement tool, Özvar said: “Our primary objective is not to exclude individuals who use tobacco, but to guide them toward appropriate support mechanisms.”

He also expressed his expectation that Young Green Crescent student clubs operating at universities would be actively supported, adding: “We want our campuses to be centers of health, sports, science, culture, the arts, and strong social connections—not of harmful habits.”

Referring to the Sports-Friendly Campus Program launched by the Council of Higher Education, Özvar stated: “The Smoke-Free Campus initiative and the Sports-Friendly Campus Program are two complementary steps. One aims to protect young people from harmful habits, while the other seeks to strengthen a culture of healthy, active, and productive living.”

Concluding his remarks with a message to young people, Özvar urged them to stay away from all harmful habits and addictions, particularly tobacco products. “Build your lives not in the shadow of addiction, but in the light of science, education, sports, culture, the arts, and productivity. You are our most valuable asset and the future of our country. Your well-being will contribute to the well-being of your families and our nation.”

- “The fight against smoking is a national cause”

Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu stated that Türkiye currently faces three major public health challenges: obesity, physical inactivity, and addiction.

Noting that 61 percent of the population is above a healthy weight and that more than one-third of citizens are addicted to smoking, Memişoğlu said: “The fight against smoking is a national cause.”

He also pointed out that while the country's annual per capita healthcare expenditure stands at USD 840, annual per capita spending on cigarettes has reached USD 1,014.

- “Every year, we lose 120,000 people to smoking-related diseases”

President of the Green Crescent Society Mehmet Dinç described addiction as one of the greatest threats facing both individuals and society. “The worst thing that can happen to a society—or to an individual—is addiction.”

Dinç stated that around 120,000 people die each year in Türkiye from smoking-related diseases. He also noted that a single cigarette butt pollutes 650 liters of water, while approximately 150 billion cigarettes are consumed annually across the country.

- “Addiction takes away a person's ability to realize their full potential”

Speaking at the event, Nisa Karagöl, a student at Istanbul University, emphasized the detrimental impact of addiction on individual potential. “Addiction deprives us of the ability to realize our potential and achieve our goals.”

Following the program, participants gathered for a commemorative group photograph.