The fixed-rate tax on tobacco products increased 5.1 per cent to TRL 4.42 (1.39) as part of a package of tax increases on alcohol, electricity and mobile phones that took effect 1 Jan, the Hürriyet Daily News said.

The increased duties followed by two days the government announcement that the minimum wage would be raised 30 per cent. Regular increases in tobacco duties have spawned warnings of an increase in illicit trade, the website said.