Turkey extends smoking ban to restaurants

Global smoking bans continue to increase at what could be considered an alarming rate. Since 2007, many cities (and some states) in the U.S. have outlawed smoking in public places and many European countries have joined the globally health-conscious in banning smoking as well. Germany and France saw bans go into effect just a few days ago with the arrival of 2008.

But, it's odd to see a smoking ban come to a country that actually produces quite a bit of tobacco. Hint: Turkish Blend.

That's right -- Turkey's Parliament enacted a law this past week that extended a smoking ban to all bars, restaurants and coffeehouses by mid-2009. Well, that's 18 months away and everything, but it attests to the power of many governments to try and increase the health (and decrease cancer and emphysema deaths) of their citizens by not allowing public smoking.