Turkey’s Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu announced the country ranks second globally in smoking prevalence, a claim supported by record-high domestic cigarette sales. The Minister highlighted a particularly high smoking rate of 46 percent among Turkish men as a key driver of this statistic. This announcement comes as the government prepares to implement further initiatives aimed at reducing tobacco consumption. No further details regarding the specific measures were immediately released. The concerning figures underscore ongoing challenges in public health efforts to curb smoking within the nation. This situation necessitates urgent and comprehensive strategies to address tobacco use and protect public well-being. The Minister made the statement during a press briefing in Istanbul on Monday.