Turkish draft law proposes 20-lira levy per cigarette pack for health fund

A draft law prepared by Türkiye's Health Ministry would set up a "Healthy Life Contribution Fund" financed by levies on tobacco, sugary drinks and certain snacks.

Türkiye's Health Ministry has prepared a draft law to set up a "Healthy Life Contribution Fund," the daily Türkiye reported on October 1. Under the draft, a levy of 20 liras would be charged per pack of packaged tobacco products and 100 liras per kilogram of loose tobacco. Sugary drinks would face up to 5 liras per 100 milliliters depending on their sugar content, while snacks whose excessive consumption is not recommended would be charged 20 percent of their sale price.

Sugary drinks on a supermarket shelf (archive)

A cigarette pack with a health warning and tax stamp in Türkiye (archive)

The revenue is planned to support school nutrition programs, the fight against childhood obesity, smoking cessation clinics and the screening and treatment of tobacco-related diseases such as lung cancer and COPD. The 25-article draft is expected to be submitted to parliament in October or November; it has not yet become law.