Antalya Expands Smoke‑Free Zones Ahead of COP31, Bans Smoking on Popular Beaches
Smoking will be prohibited at several of Antalya’s most visited beaches as local authorities widen smoke‑free zones and intensify efforts to curb environmental pollution along Turkey’s coastline.
Officials say the move is part of Antalya’s broader environmental agenda as the city prepares to host the COP31 climate conference later this year. The first phase of the initiative will introduce smoking bans at Lara, Belek, Çamyuva and Beach Park beaches, with additional locations expected to follow.
The decision comes as lawmakers in Ankara consider sweeping nationwide restrictions on tobacco use. A draft bill under preparation would outlaw smoking and other tobacco products — including hookahs — across a wide range of public areas such as beaches, playgrounds, sports facilities, schools, hospitals and places of worship.
İzzet Ünlü, president of the Antalya Maritime Platform, urged the government to adopt a nationwide beach‑smoking ban and impose tougher penalties on those who discard cigarette butts in public spaces. He pointed to Spain and France — two major competitors in Mediterranean tourism — where smoking is banned on many beaches and fines can range from €30 ($34) to €2,000 ($2,270).
Ünlü also warned that cigarette filters can persist in the environment for years and contribute to water pollution when washed into rivers and seas.
Under the proposed legislation, smoking would additionally be prohibited in outdoor sections of restaurants and cafés that serve food or drinks. Establishments would be barred from offering any service within designated smoking areas.
Penalties would rise sharply if the bill becomes law. Individuals caught smoking in restricted areas currently face a fine of 1,764 Turkish lira ($45). That figure would increase to 5,000 lira ($128). Businesses violating the rules could be fined between 5,000 lira and 10 million lira ($255 to $255,000), with the possibility of losing their operating licenses.
