VOA标准英语2009年-Turkey Ending its Love Affair With Tobacco

The expression "smoke like a Turk" seems destined¹ for the rubbish bin² of history now that Turkey has introduced some of the toughest anti-smoking legislation in all of Europe. The new ban aims to curb³ Turkey's love affair with tobacco, which is blamed for 100,000 smoking deaths in the country each year.

100,000 tobacco-related deaths a year
　
A no-smoking sign at the Karum shopping mall in Ankara, Turkey, 19 Jul 2009

A Turkish health commercial warns of the dangers of smoking, It says every year over 100,000 people die from smoking.

The commercial is part of the government's new campaign against smoking. This week the government introduced some of the toughest anti-smoking laws in Europe. Smoking is now banned in all closed public places, and that includes traditional tea and coffee houses.

For centuries Turks have passed the time sipping⁴ their tea and coffee with a cigarette. These smoke-filled rooms are iconic images of Turkey. But no more.

At the Keyif Coffee House the new ban has already hit hard, according to its owner.

An end to ancient tradition?

"Sure this ban will affect us both work wise and lifestyle. We will not be able to live the way we did. As for our cafe, we will have to find new ways to take some economical measures like sacking workers," he said. "Considering the material and emotional loss of all the people we sacked, the cigarette ban does not create a good picture for us, and three months ago I paid for a new license⁵ to sell tobacco."
　
Turkish woman smokes a cigarette outside a shopping mall in Ankara, Turkey, 19 Jul 2009

The new law is being seen as the beginning of the end for one of the country's most ancient traditions. At Keyif cafe, people used to smoking tobacco using a water pipe or as it is called in Turkey, a nargileh. It is a tradition that goes back centuries. But the nargileh too has fallen victim to the ban.

There are few customers left in Keyif cafe. One of them is Zeynel Dogan who is engaged in another ancient tradition, that of backgammon. For him smoking is part of the way of life of a Turk.

"We come here, when we have some time off work, playing backgammon, having a cup of tea and having a nargileh, which is good for us, it is a relaxing time for us," he said. "People like coming here and having a smoke, having a chilling out. But they should decide themselves, the government should give them their space."

Not first ban in Turkey

But its not the first time smokers⁷ have faced such regulation. In the 17th century, Sultan Murad IV banned smoking on the pain of death. While smokers no longer fear execution, they do face an on the spot fine of more than $50 if they are caught lighting⁸ up, while for shop owners the fine can be more than $3,000. Avid⁹ anti-smoker⁶, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is demanding the rigorous enforcement of the ban, and thousands of people have been employed to enforce it.

Most support ban

According to a recent opinion poll 90 percent of those polled supported the ban. In Taksim Square in the heart of Istanbul there appears widespread support for Prime Minister Erdogan's stance, and little sympathy for cigarette or nargileh smokers. This woman's view is typical.
　
Turkish man smokes a cigarette as he plays cards with friends at a teahouse in Ankara, Turkey, 19 Jul 2009

"Nargileh, it might be part of the tradition it has become hyped in the past five or six years, like there was no nargileh culture before it is created," she said. "It has attracted many many people to smoke even more. So I am perfectly¹⁰ happy that nargileh places will go off."

But back in Keyif cafe there is defiance¹¹, at least from some customers. Although no one was lighting up, some, like this customer, believe its only a matter of time before the ban becomes unworkable.

"European countries always respect their own rules. But in Turkey we are between the European culture and the East," said a customer. "So some rules of European countries do not work in Turkey I think."

For now, at least, all the cafes visited to research this story were displaying large signs warning of the ban, there was not a smoker to be seen. But with 30 million people believed to be tobacco users, both sides admit its going to be a long battle to end the country's love affair with smoking.

1 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。

2 bin   

n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件

参考例句：

• He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
• He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。

3 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

4 sipping   

v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She sat in the sun, idly sipping a cool drink. 她坐在阳光下懒洋洋地抿着冷饮。
• She sat there, sipping at her tea. 她坐在那儿抿着茶。

5 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

6 smoker   

n.吸烟者，吸烟车厢，吸烟室

参考例句：

• His wife dislikes him to be a smoker.他妻子不喜欢他当烟民。
• He is a moderate smoker.他是一个有节制的烟民。

7 smokers   

吸烟者( smoker的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily. 许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。
• Chain smokers don't care about the dangers of smoking. 烟鬼似乎不在乎吸烟带来的种种危害。

8 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

9 avid   

adj.热心的；贪婪的；渴望的；劲头十足的

参考例句：

• He is rich,but he is still avid of more money.他很富有,但他还想贪图更多的钱。
• She was avid for praise from her coach.那女孩渴望得到教练的称赞。

10 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

11 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。